Whether you are vegan or a junk food aficionado, you make weekly, if not daily, trips to the grocery store to stock up on the necessities. Each trip can be a chance for you to either blow the bank or be a smart shopper. With the following trips, the latter will be the most common occurrence.

 1. Forget brand loyalties: Although you may be partial to a specific brand, don’t be afraid to look around. Grocery stores typically carry their own brand which is almost always the cheapest — and tastes just as good as the brand-name items!

 2. Double check your receipts: As you are checking out, pay close attention to the screen to make sure your products are ringing up at the right price and then check your receipt afterwards to make sure you didn’t miss anything.  Every penny counts.

 3. Stick to your list: Make a list of the products you need for the time being or for a specific meal and stick to it. If you don’t stray from your list then there will be no room for you to spend more than you anticipated.

 4. Buy in bulk: Warehouse shopping may be a bit intimidating but once you get past the huge carts and large items there is a chance for big savings. With many products coming in packs of more than one, you are paying less per unit than you would if you only purchased one unit at a regular store.

 *Tip for bulk shopping – buy your non-perishables at warehouses as they can sit on your shelves longer while you consume them.

 5. Eat, then shop: A surefire way to stock up on unnecessary extras is to shop for groceries on an empty stomach. In essence, you are shopping with your eyes and not your head. Shopping on a full tummy may also prevent you from purchasing snacks that your wallet and waistline might not necessarily need at the moment.

Here are some tips to save money at the grocery store:

1. Because the cutlets are all white and deboned, they are actually more expensive than rotisserie chicken.
2. For all the meat lovers out there, bacon is less expensive than sausage!
4. Think about switching to skim milk… it’s cheaper than 2 percent milk.
5. Buy white eggs, they are cheaper than brown eggs.
6. Save money on fruits and vegetables is to buy what is in season.

What to Eat to Stay Healthy?

Don’t let this recession get you down and get your weight up. Try these tips for keeping fit during a down economy.

The $1 menu is NOT your friend:
- It’s easy to pull up at the drive-thru and feed the family for $5. Just think about it, eat cheap now, and pay expensive medical bills later. Fast food is loaded with saturated fats that can contribute to obesity, high  cholesterol and diabetes. While splurging here and there won’t harm you, making that $1 menu a big part of your diet can be detrimental to your health.

Inexpensive healthy meal options are out there
- Buy frozen, canned or fresh vegetables and add some protein to the vegetable dish, such as cooked whole grain pasta.
- Eggs are and low-priced item that people tend to forget about. It’s low in calories, high in protein and really low in carbohydrates.
- More and more, smaller portions are being offered at restaurants. Not only are these choices lower in price, but they’re good for you too.

Plan ahead:

1) Keep your eyes on grocery promotions & local grocery sales

Use the stores’ latest flyer to pinpoint deals and plans your meals for that week around the sale items. Also, buy extra for the freezer so you won’t have to pay full price they next time you make a trip.

2) Create a grocery list

Have a complete list of everything you’ll need before you got to the store. This will help you avoid costly and unplanned trips to the store. As an added bonus, this will save you time. With a grocery list, you can breeze through the store and use that time to spend with the family or have time for yourself.

3) Be flexible with what stores you frequent

Just because you’ve always shopped at the local grocers down the street or you favor one chain of stores doesn’t mean there aren’t great deals out there. While you’re reviewing the flyers to pinpoint the latest deals, keep an eye out for grocery promotions and sales in other local stores. You never know, sometimes your favorite chain may not have the better prices.