I know when I used to go grocery shopping, I would buy anything that sound good at the time that I was at the store.  Never planned a head, because I always figured that if I need something latter, I would just go shopping again (and end up buying even more food then I should have).

Here are some quick tips on how to cut down on how much you spend on grocery shopping every week.

1) Plan Ahead.  You do not have to (even though strongly suggested) plan every meal you are having on every day of the week.  Just figure out 7 dinners and lunches to choose from during the week.  Write down all the ingredients you will need and cross off everything you already have that is in your kitchen.  This is so you do not over buy something.  Once you have that tack on anything else you think you might need.  You are ONLY going to buy food that is on the list you are creating.  This will stop impulse buying.

2)  Become a member of the grocery store to get discounts at that store.  Some store chains will even give you coupons worth money off your next purchase if you spend enough or purchase enough of a brand of product.

3)  Look through the Sunday ads.  Go through the ads of all the grocery stores around you, who is offering the best deals that you will need to buy that week?

4)  Use coupons!  Save your coupons that you get every week in a folder or cut them out and organize them.  (If you are not a subscriber yet, subscribe and get our free e-book and it will also give you a place to actually search for coupons that were in the paper!)

5)  Look at the labels.  Believe it or not, look how much it costs per ounce and see if the bigger box is actually the better deal or is it the smaller one?  It depends!  Not always buying in bigger and in bulk means saving money!  There have been a few items that I have always bought the smaller version and alot of it because it is less expensive.  Some stores will even say on their store shelves something like: $0.12 per ounce for the 16oz broth and the 8 oz broth is $0.09 per ounce.  looks like I am buying 2 smaller ones and saving some money.

6) Try store brands.  I love store brands, there is not too much of a difference in taste really, but it does save money in the pocket area.

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