Be a savvy shopper and save hundreds off your monthly grocery bill.

Times are tough and we could all benefit from saving money anywhere we can. You can’t do much about your mortgage or rent, but you can squeeze extra savings from your grocery bill. We share shopping tricks that can work wonders on cost-cutting.

Shop when you’re full and shop alone. I noticed, if you’re not hungry there’s less chance of snapping-up an extra bag of snacks or a grocery special that’s very tempting. Sounds silly? Try it. Leaving the kids and even my husband at home also lessens chances of curiosity buys or impulse purchases. Add those up at the end of the month and you could see hundreds of dollars in unneeded purchases!

Have a shopping list. Now… it does not end at having all your grocery needs jotted down. Have a shopping plan and stick to it. Walk towards all the items you really need and avoid browsing through the distractions.

Stores use sneaky tactics. Those diapers and milk are at the back of the store for a reason — so you will have to pass all those shelves of tempting distractions before getting to what you really need.

Be store savvy. Avoid buying the items displayed by the register. The magazines at the checkout stand cost much more per issue than they would if you had a subscription, and food items in those little packages cost more than a from a box. Almost everything near the register is there to tempt you to buy on impulse, not to save you money.

Extra tip: lessen trips to the store so you have less chance of adding those impulse buys. This is another reason why those grocery lists and some extra planning can really save you money.

Go generic. The less-costly house brands are often so similar to national brands that you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart without the packaging. Read labels to compare nutritional value and you’ll quickly see how little difference (if any) there is.

Also, keep in mind that meat and dairy products all have to meet government standards, so store brands should be just as wholesome and nutritious as national brands.

Buy in bulk. Buy big volume to get big discounts on non-perishable items such as toiletries. Frozen foods can be divided into smaller packs before stocking them in your home freezer.

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