How to save money on your grocery bill

Don't get me wrong, I like coupons. I'm actually a member of a coupon website that helps me to match up my coupons with the best sales of the week! It's a wonderful saving device. However, there are pitfalls to coupon shopping that people fall into. If you are a diehard couponer, you might want to rethink your strategies for a more relaxed and timesaving alternative to couponing.

How do you know that, in using a particular coupon, you are getting the best deal possible? Unless you keep your own record of prices for items you buy, or unless you have the memory of an elephant, you don't know. If, for instance, you have a coupon for a fabulous counter top cleaner that will save you $.75, reducing the price of the cleaner from $2.99 to only $2.24, are you really getting a good deal? You won't know unless you have a basis for comparison.

If you knew that you could get the same amount of counter top cleaner at a discount store for $.99 how do you feel about using that coupon now? How about if you knew you could mix together the same amount of ammonia and water for a great cleaner for only $.25? Would you rather spend $.25 or $2.24? You be the judge.

The idea behind using coupons is to save money. In order to know if you are saving money, you must have a basis of comparison. This is where a pricebook can really come in handy. A pricebook is simply your own personal record of the great deals you've found in the past. Without this important record, you can't be sure if the sale or coupon item you're about to buy is really and truly a good deal or just another marketing ploy.

In short, you need to always evaluate other options before using a coupon. You might be excited because your grocery store is doubling the value of coupons and it seems like you can't go wrong. You must still look at the final price and calculate if there is yet a cheaper way to find that product.

My experience as an expert grocery shopper has led me to conclude that coupon shopping can be very beneficial, but at the same time, it can also be very misleading--if you don't use a pricebook. Keep thinking and you will save thousands grocery shopping!

Learn more on how you Cut your food budget  

It doesn't matter if you live in a small town, a sprawling metropolis, or somewhere in-between . . . Every single grocery store, friendly and accommodating as it may be, is using the same old bag of tricks to get your money!

I've simply discovered the secret to beating them. And, since they all use basically the same tactics, I'm able to beat grocery stores everywhere! The strategies in this ebook work whether you live in Clovis, New Mexico, Boise, Idaho or Richmond, Virginia!

Just take a look at what people everywhere are saying about this ebook! Grocery store saving tips  

By being a bit more frugal, you can save some of the money
you spend on food and use it for other important things.

Here are seven tips to help you get started.

1. Begin a price book.

Your price book will give you information about products that you've bought by price, date, size, store, and most importantly unit price (how much you're paying by ounce, pound and so forth).

With this information at your disposal, saving money on groceries will be much easier for you.

All you'll need to do is compare the prices you see in the grocery store to what you have in your price book. Then,
take advantage of the great deals you find and pass on the
bad ones.

2. Meal plan.

Meal planning can help you to save money on food by reducing
trips to fast food and family restaurants.

In order to get started meal planning, simply take some time to decide what dinners you want to cook. Then, purchase the food in advance.

In addition, you could plan out your meals by using what you already have on hand. Check out actual frugal meal plans
3. Brown bag it at work.

Instead of opting to spend money on a quick meal at a fast
food restaurant during your lunch break, you could pack deli
style sandwiches or hoagies along with a side of salad or
fruit.

In addition, you could take a thermos filled with part of a
soup and sandwich combination, or you could fill it with
your favorite drink.

4. Plant a garden.

Gardening can help you to replace some of the food you
typically buy at the grocery store with your own fruits,
vegetables and herbs.

In addition, gardening can help you get more exercise and
reduce some of the stress of everyday life.

5. Eat more vegetable dishes.

Make the meat you purchase at the grocery store last longer by making more vegetable dishes for you and your family. If you need meat in the dish you're going to prepare, try simply cutting back on how much meat you use.

6. Refrigerate or freeze the bread you buy at the grocery store.

You can also save money by making the bread you buy at
grocery store or bakery last longer.

An easy way to do this is to keep the bread you want to eat during the week in the refrigerator. In addition, you can save money by freezing some of the bread you buy for later use.

7. Stay focused.

Grocery stores choose their layouts with an eye to getting you to spend more money. A smart way to combat this is to stay focused when you
grocery shop. Planning your meals, writing out a shopping list and keeping a price book can help you to do this.

You can also stay focused in the store by knowing where the different sections are, not shopping while you are hungry, and by shopping without your kids if they tend to pressure you into buying things you or they don't really need.

For useful tips visit http://cookingnfood.blogspot.com/

Sun Steak, french fries, green beans

Mon Chili

Tues Spaghetti

Wed Leftovers mix chili and the leftover spaghetti together

Thurs Hot pocket, salad have a cub scout

Fri Homemade pizza

Sat cookout! Bringing a pasta salad