Don't Go Broke on Groceries

[BSClay]

You’ve got to buy food, but you don’t have to spend wildly on it. Smart shopping can save you a bundle. For instance, if you save just $20 a month on groceries, you’ve banked more than $200 over the year.

Here are some strategies to save on your food bill:

• Plan your shopping carefully. Look through your refrigerator and pantry to see what you need on a regular basis. This lets you look for sales and buy those products in bulk.
• Cut back on convenience foods. Don’t buy things like packaged salads or pre-cut celery. You’re paying big for a small convenience.
• Use coupons. If you find that you buy some name-brand foods regularly, then start clipping the coupons for them. Otherwise, generic foods are comparable in quality and content, and usually less expensive.
• Check out different stores. You may find as much as a 10-15 percent difference on identical products at different stores, depending on the neighborhood and demographic factors. Shop at the store that is the cheapest overall.