20 ways to save on groceries

I recieved a free copy of womans day today and these top tips were in it.

20 ways to save on groceries

1) SHOP ALONE!
Too many hands make for long register receipts. Kids and husbands often coerce you into buying more than you want to, especially junk foods.

2) BUY ONLY WHAT YOU NEED!
Most people load up on tomatoes, zucchini and peppers, put then in the fridge and then forget about them. Plan menu's before you go, and buy only a few days worth of fruit and vegetables. You'll be suprised how much money you save wheny ou stop throwing stuff away

3) SUPERSIZE!
The best neat prices are on large cuts, so have the butcher cut a large roast into steaks, stew meat, and a small roast. Ground meat is usually cheaper in family-size packs; you can repackage and freeze it. Check the freezer section for large bags of poultry and seafood too.

4) DIY AND SAVE!
While the marinated roasta and chicken breasts in the meat department may look tasty, you pay a high price for all that liquid and seasoning. Instead, soak chicken breasts or inexpensive cuts of meat in lemon juice or Italian salad dressing for a few hours before cooking, or freeze in plastic freezer bags with some marinade. Instead of buying chicken nuggets, bread your own chicken strips to cook or freeze for later.

5) DONT OVER-PURCHASE!
Just because an item on sale will save you money doesnt make it worth buying dozens. Limit yourself to a reasonable number of boxes, bottles or cans of any one item in your pantry, fridge or freezer at a time. Many products expire before you'll ever you use them, and stores typically run sales on specific items periodically, so you can replenish later. A lot of people shop for a snowstorm when its really not necessary.

I DISAGREE WITH THE ABOVE!! IF YOU CAN STOCK UP ON ITEMS LIKE CANNED GOODS AND STUFF THAT YOU GET FREE OR VERY CHEAP I SAY GO AHEAD! AS LONG AS YOU KNOW YOUR GOING TO USE THEM BEFORE THEY EXPIRE I SAY GET AS MANY AS YOU CAN. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES I HAVE LIVED OF MY STOCKPILE FOR AT LEAST A MONTH!! ITS WORTH IT!

6) SAY SO LONG TO SNACK PACKS!
Single servings of cookies, chips, crackers, and juice may be very convenient, but they're no value on a volume basis. If you buy sandwich bags or use small containers to create your own snack packages, not only will you save money, but you'll also have more control over how much- and what- your kids eat.

7) WEIGH YOUR CHOICES!
When purchasing pre-bagged produce, such as apples, oranges, or potatoes, put several bags on the scale to find the heaviest. Sometimes they can vary by as much as a pound.

8) GO GENERIC!
In many cases, generic and store label food and household items are identical to or as good as name brand products. Cereals, crackers, chips, napkins and paper towels are usually dependable and cost 20 to 30 percent less; stick to name brands for ketchup and pasta sauce.

9) COMPARE COST PER POUND OR COST PER UNIT!
Be sure to check the unti cost. Sometimwa the 'economy' size isnt always the best bargain, especially when a smaller size is on sale.

10) MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE BUTCHER!
Ask him what day of the week and time they stock the "reduced for quick sale" area. You'll get substantial savings, sometimes $2 a pound or up to 50% off.

11) CHECK OUT THE CHICKS!
A roasting chicken is merely a large fryer, relabeled and sold at a higher price. Dont pay more for a different label; find the biggest fryer for roasting.

12) THINK AHEAD!
Proper preperation can turn would-be waste into a fresh new meal. If your family never finishes that last third of lasagna, for instance, cut out a third before serving and freeze it.

13) INVEST IN A SECOND FREEZER!
You'll save big on meat by stocking up on specials.

14) SHOP WITH LEFTOVERS IN MIND!
Some foods are perfect for an encore performance the following day, especially if you can present them differently.

15) LEARN WHEN TO LEAVE LEFTOVERS BEHIND
Not all meals are as appealing on day two, so dont buy more than you can eat in one sitting. For instance, fish or dressed salad just isnt good the next day, so buy and prepare just what you need.

16) COUNT ON DISCOUNT AND CLEARANCE STORES!
Merchants such as Ocean State Job Lot or Big Lots frequently offer cut price groceries and paper products.

17) VISIT PRICE CLUBS WITH A FRIEND!
Take a supply of boxes, bags, and resealable containers, and split purchases that you both want, especially items like fresh fruit and spices.

18) BUY THE WEDNESDAY PAPER!
Thats the day newspapers typically include a food section where supermarkets advertise sales.

19) CUT CORNERS ON CLIPPING COUPONS!
Check out websites that offer printable manufacturer coupons. (to find type "grocery coupons" into your search engine)

20)STOCK UP ON LOCAL, IN-SEASON FRUITS AND VEGGIES!
Markets may import ou-of-season produce from outher countries, but the price usually reflects the airfare. If you're going to cook the items, then freezing in-season produce saves you money.