We all have to eat, but food prices have been on the rise. So how do you avoid breaking the bank when you go to the grocery store?

For starters, have a plan. Take inventory of what you have and make a list of what you need before going to the store. Now here’s the secret that everyone already knows: once you get to the store, STICK TO YOUR LIST!! You’ll be surprised how hard it is to only purchase the items you actually wrote down. Be especially careful to avoid compulsive purchases and buying items just because they are on sale. Sticking to your list alone can help you save.

For an old fashioned idea, keep in mind coupons. On average, using coupons will save 10% off your total bill. And the internet has revolutionized couponing to make this even easier. Couponsherpa.com is a great site with coupons from over 5,000 stores.

Now a quick word about bulk shopping. Buying items in bulk can be useful for certain products like toilet paper, paper towels, and laundry detergent. But be careful of buying bulk items that perish quickly – if you can’t use them up in time, you’re just throwing away money. So shop smart.

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