Groceries - Saving Money in a Tough Economy

Coupons - Some stores double or even triple coupons. Call your local supermarket to find out if they do either one, and if so, if it's all the time or only on certain days. Try to only use coupons on items that are already on sale, and don't buy if you don't have coupons!

Reduced - In some stores, there are sections where reduced items are stashed. Some of these are almost ready to be thrown out by the store, and some are damaged but still perfectly fine. Bakery, Produce, and Grocery are the most common places to find reduced items.

Bulk - If you buy you nonperishables and household goods in bulk, when they're on sale, and when you have a coupon, you'll save a lot of money in the long run. Meats can also be bought in bulk, then put into a freezer bag and stored until you're ready to use them.

Ends - In the deli department at grocery stores, extra pieces and loaf ends are referred to as "Ends" and are discounted. Cheese ends can make a great snack, or even a mac and cheese. Meat ends are a neat way to have a variety of sandwiches without having to buy different types of meats.

Sales - Do not buy items you don't need badly if they are not on sale. Sales rotate, so try to match up your needs with when items go on sale. Also, find out when sales start at your local stores so you're not the last to know.

Store Brands - Some items you can find in the store's own brand. These will be discounted, and will not have advertising. Most of the time, this will save you a lot of money and you won't see much of a difference in the product.

Ask employees - Ask the employees in different departments what the best deals are that week. They should be able to tell you easily that particular items are buy one get one, or very cheap.

Shop around - This isn't always a possibility for a busy person, but grocery stores are notoriously expensive as far as household goods go. Shampoo, toilet paper, all sorts of non-food items. If you can buy them elsewhere, you'll save money. Also, many cleaners and such have home replacements that work just as well. Vinegar instead of window cleaner (the smell goes away quickly), baking soda as an effective cleaner and deodorizer, you can also use a lemon to sanitize and clean many things including cutting boards. These sorts of changes can save you money, but pay attention to what you're spending to make sure that it does actually save.