Simple Ways to Save Money on Groceries

Do you often walk away from the checkout line at the grocery store and wonder what happened? Do you immediately begin to think about the steps you could have taken to save money?

In today’s day and age, with grocery prices on the rise, it’s more difficult than ever before to stay within your budget. Fortunately, you can make some basic changes to your strategy in order to save money and feel better about every trip you take.

Here are three changes to consider:

•    Gather coupons before you hit the store. It doesn’t matter if you find these online, in the mail, or in the newspaper, you want to collect as many as possible. The more coupons you take with you the more money you’ll save. It’s as simple as that.
•    Opt for generic products. While brand names are attractive, you can save a lot of money by purchasing generic products that taste the same or provide the same results (depending on what you’re buying).
•    Take your time. When you’re in a hurry it’s easy to throw items into your cart without thinking twice. Soon enough, you have a bunch of stuff you don’t need (and will regret as soon as you get home). No one wants to spend a lot of time in the grocery store, but a bit of patience can go a long way in helping you save money.
•    If you are disciplined with credit, consider cash back credit card rewards. Some cards offer 5% in grocery savings! However, don't allow the use of credit entice you to spend more or ignore the other changes you can consider.

Final tip: don’t but toiletries and paper products at the grocery store, but instead shop at big box retailers and online.

These are far from the only things you can do to save money on groceries, but each and every one of these tips is sure to keep you on track.

What’s your average grocery bill? Are you happy with this number, or are you seeking ways to save even more money? Share your favorite tips in the comment section below.