Save money on your grocery bill

Grocery costs are probably one of the most significant expenses in our budget that is also very much under our control. But saving money on groceries doesn't have to mean eating lower quality food.

• Don't shop on an empty stomach. This can be one of the best money-savers out there. When you're hungry, it's much easier to grab impulse items and your bill can easily go up by 20%
• Plan your meals. Decide what you plan to eat for the next two weeks, and don't forget to include leftovers in your plan. Compare what you will need with an inventory of your groceries on hand so you buy only what you'll need
• Check the grocery ads before you plan your meals. Mass-mailed coupons (or those clipped from your newspaper) are often not worth using, since they are often for more expensive and less nutritious products, but signing up for email specials from your favorite stores can get you some worthwhile discounts. 
• Check generic products. In many cases, I've been pleasantly surprised by their quality, and there are certain things I will ONLY buy the store brand, since I've found it to be of better quality (HEB Orange juice and ketchup, Sam's choice chocolate chip cookies, etc.)
• Consider the nutritional value of your foods. Often "junk foods" are overpriced and don't add to your nutritional needs, although they will add to your waistline. Skipping foods like potato chips and soda in favor of fresh fruits and flavored teas can save you money and help your family get healthier. 
• Buy produce in season. Strawberries that cost $1.50 in early summer can run as much as $4 during winter, and are less likely to be fresh. If you must have non-seasonal produce, compare the price of canned and frozen with fresh. 
• Stock up on sales. Certain things you know you will use, and when they are offered as loss leaders you can really save. If you have a way to save the food long-term, go ahead and buy whatever you can use during the storage term. Some foods like flour can be purchased for about 80% less if you buy in bulk. 
• Use less meat. Since meat is one of the most expensive foods, per pound, look for alternatives. Cutting down on meats will improve most people's diets as well. Consider eggs as a protein source, try a meatless meal at least once a week, and look into meals that use less meat per serving (such as homemade chili instead of steak or roast beef). 
• Use up your leftovers. Many foods are suitable to be tossed into a container and frozen for use later. Mixed veggies can be frozen and made into stew, potatoes can serve as a thickener, etc. With many foods you can also prepare a single meal of leftovers and freeze it for later when you need a quick easy meal.
• Making foods from scratch. This can be a HUGE money-saver, and not as difficult as you might think. Start with just one recipe, like tomato sauce instead of a canned sauce, and work up from there. I've gotten to the point that I prefer to make many of my own bread and pastry products, and now I am experimenting with copycat recipes for restaurants so that I don't even need to go out and pay for those cravings.