Save money at the grocery store

As grocery prices skyrocket, shopping for food is becoming a pain in the wallet.

In the past year the price of groceries has risen more than 7.5 percent, more than double the rate of inflation, according to statistics from United States Department of Agriculture. A family of four with two children between ages of 2 and 5 spends an average of $767 per month on groceries. Families with two children between the ages of 6 and 11 shell out $911.10 on groceries, according to statistics provided by the USDA.

But a visit to the local H.E.B. doesn't have to break the bank.

A few hours of planning and coupon cutting and a willingness to shop around can yield great savings.

Candy Gonzalez, a mother of four, estimates that she saves between $20 and $30 a week on groceries since she started clipping coupons and creating shopping lists.

"You save a lot more money if you write a grocery list and stick to it," she said.

She also comparison shops by going to both Wal-Mart and H.E.B. At Wal-Mart she often finds cheaper prices on juice and chicken, but H.E.B. has weekly specials that she says can also add up to a lot of savings.

But maybe the most important thing Gonzalez has done is looked through her shopping list to decide which items on it are necessities and which would just be nice to have.

"I usually just stick to the needs," she said.

Paige Lauren Deiner covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4425.

Compare total contained weight to product price:
>> Consumers need to not only pay attention to price points, but also the weight of the product they are purchasing. Over the last several years, many major ice cream brands have reduced the 1/2 gallon size of ice cream to 1.75 quarts. Edy's brand ice cream reduced its size this year from an already shrunken 1.75 quarts to 1.5 quarts with no price adjustment and, unsurprisingly, without fanfare. It is more important than ever to compare price versus size. The cheapest product may not be the best deal because what you are getting for your money might be less than what you can get by paying a few cents more for 10 ounces more of product or better quality. Take storebrand garbage bags versus name brand. Recently, due to oil prices, storebrand grocery bag prices have edged up toward the price of name brands. I am now opting to spend a little more on the name brand because the quality is better and there will be less of a need to double up on store brand bags that rip and snag when you need them most.

Brag about your favorite product
>> Call the consumer feedback line on the back of packages to rave about how much you love the product and request to receive coupons for future purchases. You will find that most manufacturers will be more than happy to send you coupons. Calling the consumer feedback line for coupons will ensure you have coupons to use for the next sale of your favorite items.

Pay in cold hard cash
>> Know your spending limits. Set one and try to stay within it; if it doesn't work, consider revising until you find the right amount. Big ticket items usually are meat, diapers, formula, and some fruit if out of season, so plan according to your needs, priorities and hobbies. Plus, paying in cash ensures you're paying exactly what you budgeted.
Perform grocery CPR before leaving home
CALENDAR: Look over the week ahead and make note of the flow of activities for everyone including yourself. Identify how many meals you will eat home together as a family, the meals you eat at home but not together and the nights you will be out as a couple and as a family.
PANTRY: This visual scan will bring to mind food and other household items you already have. This will eliminate double buying or allowing the food you already have to go to waste.
RECIPES: Now take a moment to go over recipes both family favorites from memory and new dishes to try out. Here you are able to make the most of the ingredients you have and make note of what you need to buy.
Make a shopping list after CPR. The list should reflect your most current needs so you do not overspend at the grocery store. While in the store, stick to the list - you will shop faster and achieve more saving when you stick to the plan. Plus, you will feel a sense of accomplishment for having done what you set out to do.
Source: Amy Bergin, President, The Couponizer Company

Go to the source for better savings:
Everyone knows to clip coupons from the Sunday paper, but did you know that the better coupons are on manufacturers' Web sites or in special e-mails? To get coupons for brands you buy on a regular basis, register online for their promotions. From Pampers diapers to Organic Valley milk, manufacturers reward their loyal customers with exclusive coupons sent to them in postal mail and email.
(BREAKOUT WITH THIS SUBSECTION)
www.smartsource.com
www.coupons.com
www.coolsavings.com
www.dealsfordivas.com
Source: www.ShoppingQueen.com

Shop on-line
Amazon.com now offers grocery items, and they frequently run promotions, too. While you may not be comfortable buying milk online, there is nothing wrong with buying, say, cereal. If you order over $25 shipping is free plus you don't pay sales tax. So depending on where you live and how much you pay in sales tax, the savings can add up.
Source: www.ShoppingQueen.com