I am a coupon clipper. I get them from Sunday's paper and I also register online with brands we use a lot of (Huggies, Betty Crocker, Bisquick, Proctor & Gamble, General Mills, etc) so they will mail me coupon offers.

I also compare costs on various items at my local grocers and buy certain things at each one. Often, if it is a luxury item (like cookies/chips) it does not get purchased if it is not on sale OR it must be on sale and I have to have a coupon. I also recently found out Target will accept a Target web coupon and a manufactuers coupon for the same item. This is great especially for cereal that is close to $4 a box now!

There are great savings when veggies/
fruit are purchased at the Vegetable stand.
Purchasing family pack meat on sale is
also a great savings. Investing in a
deep freezer in order to package and
put away for several months can also
be cost effective in the long run !!
I've always been cost conscious, now
more than ever.

1. Store brands and checking unit prices.

2. Warehouse stores (but not everything is cheaper that way, so see #1).

3. Lotte Plaza and Sunfresh. Produce is half the price of the grocery store and more varied.

4. Target and Walmart for diapers and formula (always bearing in mind #1).

I menu plan, which keeps me out of the grocery store and I can also plan my meals around what is on sale or in season.

I also make a lot of stuff from scratch, such as bread. I have a fantastic bread machine and a huge bag of whole wheat flour and a big container of yeast is relatively cheap.

We buy very few processed goods or convenience foods too and that helps keep the cost down.

I agree with Kayris - menu planning is when I save the most money. Also, when I have the meals planned out in advance (and posted on the dry erase board in the kitchen where it is visible) I don't forget about foods/meals. When I don't plan, I'm embarrassed to say I often end up with food that goes bad in the fridge, and that is the biggest waste of my family's money.

I have worked in the grocery store business for 12 years as a manager and have seen several techniques employed by my customers to save money. The shoppers that save the most are those that plan out their meals, shop sale items, and use coupons. Processed and ready-to-eat meals cost the most so it saves to cook from scratch. Personally, I will make large batches of soups or speghetti sauce and freeze them to use when I don't feel like cooking. Take care of your food once you get it home - don't let things go stale or spoil and have to throw food out. And check out store-brand items - they do cost less and are made by the big name manufacturers.