For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal live. John 3:16 (NIV)

Today's economy has most people looking for ways to save money. For most, grocery shopping trips are a major expense. Supermarkets are minefields of temptation. However, with a little planning, grocery shopping costs can be reduced considerably without sacrificing the quality of food on the dinner table. Here are 5 tips to help you save your hard-earned money at the supermarket.

Grocery Shopping Tip #1: Read Supermarket Circulars. Review your local supermarket's weekly ad, either online or in the newspaper. As you scan the sale items, think about the meals you'll prepare in the coming week. Check the meat specials for likely cuts to build a dinner around. Look for opportunities to stock up on low-priced, non-perishable staples. If you have more than one supermarket in your area, use the ads to decide where to do your grocery shopping. With a little practice you'll soon recognize the good supermarket deals.

Grocery Shopping Tip #2: Clip Coupons. Always be on the lookout for coupons. They are key to saving dollars at the supermarket. Check newspapers, mailers and websites. Look for both manufacturer and store coupons. Manufacturer coupons are issued by the company that produces the product while store coupons are associated with the supermarket itself. Supermarkets sometimes offer to double or even triple the value of your coupons. Schedule your grocery shopping trips during these promotions.

Grocery Shopping Tip #3: Plan Your Menu. By now you've read the circular and clipped some coupons so you should have found some good deals. Take a few minutes to write out a menu for the week. Base your meals primarily on the bargains you've found. If you are planning to buy a week's worth of groceries at once, make sure to plan meals based on fresh meats and produce earlier in the week and those using frozen and dry ingredients later. Also plan a couple of extra meals based on ingredients that you keep on-hand. That way if the supermarket doesn't have an item that you need for a meal, you have a backup plan.

Grocery Shopping Tip #4: Make a Grocery Shopping List. Once you have a menu, you can create a shopping list. Just list the ingredients necessary to make the meals on your menu. Don't forget things that you'll need but might be easy to overlook like spices or sandwich bags. Also remember to include non-food related items like soap and trash bags. Now order the list by supermarket department (produce, meat, canned goods, etc.) so that you can pick up everything in one pass when you're grocery shopping. Remember, the list serves two important purposes: it reminds you to get the necessary items and it limits you to only getting those necessary items. This keeps your grocery shopping budget under control.

Grocery Shopping Tip #5: Eat a Meal Before Going to the Supermarket. Don't shop hungry. Eating a meal will keep you disciplined while grocery shopping. If you're hungry everything in the supermarket will look appetizing. If you're full you won't be so tempted. Try to make this meal one of the best you've had all week. That way you'll look forward to grocery shopping day.

Norman Dale writes about common sense solutions to everyday problems. Find out more ways to save money at the supermarket by clicking here => Save Money

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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