• Plan ahead. This is the best way to save money. Before shopping, look in your freezer and pantry and decide how you will build meals off of what is there. Then turn to the sales circulars to create a menu for the next few days or the week based on the items that are on sale at your favorite stores.

• Write a shopping list. Creating a list (and sticking to it) will save you money — guaranteed.  Stores are set up to promote impulse buying, which can drive up your expenses. Write a list of the items that you need before you go into the store and stick to the list.

• Use coupons. It can be tedious to cut coupons, file them and remember to bring them with you when you shop, but it is well worth the effort. Combining a coupon with a sale drives the item price down and the value up.

• Review the items that are on sale. Purchase them only if you are certain you will use them — don’t give in to the temptation of “but it’s such a great deal.” Throwing away out-of-date food is a waste of money.

• Buy what you love and use while it is on sale. Take advantage of “Buy One, Get One” sales and stock your freezer with pork tenderloins, chicken breasts and your pantry with pasta and peanut butter if you know that you will use them. Meat items go on sale every month. No need to purchase 10 tenderloins — you won’t use them. Just get one or two for the month.

• Try new brands. Most stores have a generic line of products that are lower priced and are oftentimes on sale. These lines are cheaper because of the money saved on costly advertising of the product. No need to buy everything generic if you are loyal to certain brands for key items, but add a few generics or lower priced brands to your shopping cart for extra savings.

• Don’t just assume that because an item is on sale, it is the best deal. Sale wording can be deceptive. Sometimes the price shown isn’t a sale price at all but is an advertisement for the product at its regular price.

• Remember: the larger the item, the lower the price. Purchasing a larger can of tomatoes at full price might be cheaper than purchasing two smaller cans on sale. Buying a large bag of shelf stable items such as rice will be much cheaper than multiple small boxes.

• When comparing prices, use the shelf tag. Each grocery item has a small tag with lots of information on it. The top left corner shows the price “per unit” which is usually per ounce or per pound. A jar of olives may come in various sizes and prices. By comparing the per unit/per ounce cost on the olives, you can make the most cost-effective choice.

• Don’t assume that the best values can only be found at the biggest stores. Smaller independent stores work hard to bring quality and value to their customers and their employees are generally more knowledgeable about the store, the sales and the products.

Take a look at the bottom of your receipt where the “amount saved” totals can be found. Pat yourself on the back. You just saved money on your grocery bill!