I got three kids at home who eat more than I do. The result is a grocery bill which can be ridiculously high if we don’t shop smart and look for savings. It’s with this in mind that I present some brilliantly simple ways to save money at the grocery store, especially for those who’d rather not spend their evening with a pair of scissors clipping coupons. I hope they help you save, I know they really help us on a monthly basis.

Gotta Have a List

I remember my single days when I would go to the grocery and come home with maraschino cherries, beef jerky, olives, tooth picks, bag of potatoes, and a box of corn flakes.

I would get home and realize that I still have ZERO ingredients for a “real” meal and just pick up the phone and order a pizza.

Just make a dam list during the week as you run out of things.

Then if you want to plan some meals, just make sure you have the ingredients, if you don’t, barter with your neighbors.

PRO TIP: THE “HALF PRICE” TRICK ON BAKERY & DELI ITEMS

Many grocery stores discount bakery and hot food items 50% off after a certain hour (e.g., after 7 pm at some Safeway and Kroger stores).

If you want cheap rotisserie chicken, fresh bread, or deli meals, go just before closing.

See Also: The 14 Cheapest Grocery Stores in Your Town (Hopefully)

Shop Store Brands

The quality of most store brands has really been increasing the last few years, this is especially true with the Costco Kirkland brand.

In most cases you’ll never know the difference.

I actually like the store brand cottage cheese better than the name brand from our local Winco grocery store.

Yes I like cottage cheese, and no, I am not 85 years old.

PRO TIP: USE PRICE MISTAKES TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

Grocery stores make pricing errors all the time—mislabeling items, failing to remove expired sale tags, or scanning items at the wrong price.

Many stores, including Albertsons, Safeway, and Vons, all have a “price guarantee” policy, where they’ll give you an item for free or at a massive discount if the price is incorrect. Always check your receipt before leaving the store.

Don’t Shop When Hungry

Self explanatory.

If you’re hungry you may very well come home with the following: pre-made Jell-O cups, Jell-O pudding pops, the large red vines bag, Drumsticks, 3 frozen Sara Lee pies, and Entenmann’s doughnuts.

If you have 4 of these currently in your kitchen take a pic and send it to me, I’ll send you a prize.

Plan One Large-Ass Trip

Save money on gas and time by not going every day or two.

By reducing the frequency of trips to the grocery store you also reduce the amount of temptation created.

If you don’t want to bust your grocery budget then stay out of the store.

You can’t spend if you ain’t there. You’ll never spend money on groceries if you never eat. OK, I’ll stop now.

PRO TIP: FIND “HIDDEN CLEARANCE” SECTIONS

Most grocery stores have clearance sections hidden in random aisles (not just the end caps).

Walk around the store and look at bottom shelves and tucked-away areas where managers put overstock or seasonal leftovers.

Items without price tags or those placed away from their usual sections can also be indicators of hidden clearance deals.

See Also: Costco Employees Tell Me The Single Best Day to Shop

Shop Alone

Call at least a week ahead of time and rent out the entire grocery store.

No, but seriously, try and shop by your lonesome as you’ll be less distracted and less tempted to buy those white Oreo cookies your “dependents” have been “asking”….I mean begging for.

Use Manufacturer Coupons

Before you yell at me for mentioning the word “coupons”, I do have one tip that I just got to share.

The key to clipping coupons is to ONLY clip coupons on things you would have bought anyways.

Too often people get caught up clipping every coupon they can find even if they’ll probably never use it. TOTAL waste of time.

If you start buying processed food and junk food just because you happen to have a coupon, you’re doing yourself a disservice, both financially and health-wise.

PRO TIP: KNOW WHEN TO STOCKPILE

Grocery stores strategically rotate discounts on staple items like cereal, pasta, and snacks, meaning that if you miss a sale, the price will likely drop again in about 6 to 8 weeks.

Tracking these cycles at your favorite stores can help you stock up at the right time and avoid overpaying. If an item is perishable, consider freezing extras to stretch your savings even further.

When something hits its lowest price, buy enough to last until the next sale. A good rule: Never buy an item at full price unless it’s urgent.

Walk Quickly by the Free Samples

You do realize why those people are there giving out free samples, right?

They are NOT there to help you save money and they are NOT there to help you make good buying choices.

There sole reason for existing is to get you to buy crap you don’t need.

Companies know when they get you to touch, smell, lick, and ingest their products they have won. Many will make the impulse purchase.

Running In For Milk and Eggs? Try This

DO NOT grab a cart or basket.

Carry your milk and eggs in your hands. That way you won’t be tempted to throw impulse purchases into your cart.

You can’t buy what you can’t carry.

A related tip, try not to shop with cargo pants or parachute pants from the 1990’s. M.C. Hammer could have easily stuffed a cart full of groceries into his drawers.

Do NOT Be Brand Loyal

When you get caught up in specific brands you tend to neglect pricing.

I realize some brands are non-negotiable.

For example, somebody that likes Best Foods mayo is not going to buy Miracle Whip just to save .50 cents.

But when brand is not a big deal, always opt for the best value, even if that means buying generic.

You never know, you may actually like the cheaper brand better.

See Also: The 9 Alternative Brands That Are Cheaper But Just as Good

Double Check your Receipt

Make sure your items were scanned correctly and make sure all your coupons were accounted for if you used any.

I have lost count of the number of times that sale items did NOT ring up correctly.

After you’re handed your receipt, step to the side so the cashier can start with the next customer, and examine your receipt.

If you notice an error kindly ask the cashier for clarification.

If the store is completely swamped, and your cashier is frantically trying to keep up, try the customer service desk at the front of the store.

It’s your money so make sure you get what you deserve.

See Also: 5 Ways to Make Money From Your Grocery Receipt

Bonus: Use a Rebates App

I’m a huge fan of the free Ibotta app. Essentially the app gives you money back on purchases (via instant rebates) that you’d be making anyways.

The cool part is you’ll even get money back on generic things like eggs, milk, and a loaf of bread.

See Also: Ibotta Review: Insider Tips on Using the App to Save Money

Ask the Reader: Any tips I may have missed? Looking forward to your comments.

By Kyle James

Photo credit to Chris Waits.

Kyle James( Owner/Founder )

I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)