Grocery expenses are a somewhat discretionary, though essential, spending category. Training oneself to save money at the grocery store on every trip means large savings over time. The average family’s grocery costs account for between 9.8 and 12.5 percent of annual spending. (Source: MSNBC) With the cost of food rising a little each year, people are looking for ways to save money on groceries. Through the use of coupons, in-store specials, and grocery store discount cards, it is possible to save money at the grocery store and still walk out with a basket full of food. 

Make a Grocery List

It’s easier to shop with a set list of items rather than trying to remember what’s needed. A list can also help avoid buying a bunch of snacks, drinks, or other costly extras. A list is also useful for remembering which products have a coupon and for how much. 

Use Grocery Coupons

Coupons are a common grocery money saver, but not everyone knows how to use coupons to maximize savings. Coupon saving requires planning the grocery list to maximize savings. This includes researching in-store advertised specials and combining them with coupon savings. Another option is taking advantage of double coupon days, which allow a person to save double the amount printed on the coupon. Not all stores offer a double coupon policy, but some grocery stores set certain days or times of the month as double coupon day. When combined with a stores advertised specials, double coupons greatly reduce the actual cost of an item. (Source: Redbook)

Online coupon sites offer additional savings through printable coupons. Many times, printable coupons can be combined with manufacturers coupons found in newspaper circulars. Some stores, like Kroger, offer customer loyalty cards on which coupons can be downloaded and the savings deducted when the card is swept at the register. 

Watch for Markdowns or Manager Specials

Meat, produce, and dairy are some of the more expensive food items on a grocery bill. These items are also have the shortest expiration dates. For this reason, many stores offer markdowns right before the items expire. Meat can be marked down by 50 percent, while produce may be bagged together and offered for one low price. Specialty cheeses and bakery products also receive special markdowns to move the product out of the store. 

Pay Attention to Cost per Unit

Many times the larger sized product does offer more value, but if the smaller sized unit is marked down, it may be cheaper to stock up on the smaller sized unit to save money. This type of savings can apply to canned soups, beans, and vegetables. It helps to bring a small calculator to help calculate the best cost per unit. (Source: Woman's Day)

Buy Pantry Staples on Sale

Rice, beans, canned foods, pasta, and granola bars are all items that have long expiration dates and can be stored in the pantry for months or years. When these staples go on sale, it’s a good idea to stock up on extras. If a bag of rice has an expiration date one or two years from the current date, estimate the long-term savings of buying the rice in bulk as opposed to paying full price over the next couple years. 

Shop In-Season 

Produce is cheapest when purchased in-season. Spring is the time to purchase fresh berries, summer is good for cheap tomatoes, squash, and peppers, and fall has cheap apples, pears, and corn. While the berries are best consumed fresh, vegetables can be blanched and frozen for a few months. Foods frozen in-season help save money when the price is at its peak in the off-season months.

Buy Off-Brand Items

Consumer Reports found that a store-brand item runs about 27 percent less than a name-brand item. This can greatly reduce the final price listed on the grocery receipt. Items such as soda, mayonnaise, salad dressing, toothpaste, yogurt, and peanut butter usually offer a store-brand equivalent for less money. (Source: Get Rich Slowly)

Another way to save money at the grocery store is to shop at grocery chains that specialize in off-brand or cheaper-brand products. A store such as Aldi stocks a mixture of off-brand products along with reduced price brand-name products.

Utilizing a combination of the above tips, and finding alternative stores to shop at, can help to save money on groceries week after week.