Groceries are one of the major expenditures in a family budget.  Outside of your mortgage and/or car payment, the next thing you probably spend the most money on is groceries.  The average family spends about 7.4% of their income on food (US Statistical Abstract).  It may not seem like a lot of money because it?s a little each time that you shop, but if you add it up over a year, it becomes a lot of money.  For example, a family with an income of $40,000 a year will spend nearly $3,000 on groceries.  Saving money at the grocery store doesn?t just involve saving while at the store.  You need to start planning while still at home.

Tips for saving before you go to the store

See what you are spending money on now.  Get an old grocery receipt and highlight all of the convenience foods, doubles of foods you already have, and food you could do without.  Add it up and see how much you spent.

Decide what your family?s grocery budget will be and only spend the amount that you budgeted.  If what you are spending now is over budget, what can you eliminate to meet your budget?

Only take cash.  We tend to spend more when we pay for purchases with a check or credit card.

Post a list on your refrigerator.

Plan menus for the week.  Plan the menu according to what?s on sale that week and go from there.

Don?t go grocery shopping when you are hungry, tired or in a hurry.   People who shop when hungry tend to spend 17% more at the store.

Go alone - especially if your children, spouse, or significant other have a case of the ?I wants?.  Shopping with kids can result in a 30% increase in spending.

Tips for saving while at the store

Try not to linger.  The longer you are in the store, the more money you?ll spend.

Avoid pre-cut fruit and vegetables because they are more expensive.

Beware of the expensive items.  The most expensive items are at eye level of a 5?4? woman.  The least expensive items are on the top and bottom shelves.

Limit impulse items.  Put impulse items in the child seat area of the cart.  That way, you won?t buy as many because there isn?t much room.

Consider the store brands.  National chains make most store brands.  If your family eats one or more boxes of cereal a week, you can save $100 a year buying store brand cereal.

Limit convenience items.  The more steps you are willing to take for yourself, the lower your grocery bill will be.

Buy store-brand over the counter medications.