How to save money on groceries - the basics!

It's alarming that the cost of groceries have increased 8% so far this year. It's important to learn ways to keep the grocery costs at bay. Here's how I save 35% or more on my grocery bill EVERY trip.

Here's another fact: The average U.S. family of 4 spends $800/ month on groceries!!!
We spend less than $400/ month. Here's how:

1. Browse the weekly grocery ads
2. Find items that are good bargains that you will use or can stock up on and use before expiration. (i.e. find peanut butter for 88 cents, cereal for a buck - buy 3 or 10)
3. Match ads to coupons you have already. You can print coupons online, buy the All You magazine, clip from the newspaper, look for in-store promotions, request free samples from companies (they usually send coupons too). I've scored lots of items free or very cheap by doing this.
4. MAKE A MEAL PLAN and stick to it. I do a 10 day plan. The longer you can go without going to the grocery store the more you save in the long run. Also, plan well so you avoid those costly "quick" trips to the store because you forgot something.
5. Now that you have your grocery list and the ads, check to see if any stores have the items you need on sale at any of the local stores. Write those prices on a paper to take with you and price match at Walmart. Also, match any coupons you have to the items on your list and put those aside so you have them ready when you checkout.
6. BUY ONLY THE ITEMS ON YOUR LIST!!! Those little impulse buys add up fast.
7. I also calculate the per ounce or unit cost, because sometimes even with price matching and coupons, the generic is still cheaper.

It's tough the first few times you do it, but it gets easier and becomes routine. We now have a stash of favorite recipes and the groceries needed for each recipe stored on our computer. It's so easy to pick the weekly meals and make our lists and then if I find a good deal on an item I will stock up.