Food is one of those necessities of life: we can’t exactly get around buying it. Because you have to eat, you also have to buy groceries. But, this doesn’t mean you have to break the bank just to buy the bread.
 
Saving money on groceries is actually easier than you think. Consider the following actions:

Don’t Shop When You’re Hungry: It might seem like your state of hunger has little bearing on your grocery bill, but you’d be surprised. People who go grocery shopping on an empty stomach aren’t only more likely to spend more money, but they are also more likely to buy things they won’t necessarily eat. That extra large bag of pork rinds might sound good at the time, but once you are no longer starving, it might just sound kind of disgusting.

Don’t Go For Products at Eye Level: Grocery stores are aimed at having you buy products and any product pusher knows a marketing trick or two. Grocery stores often place their priciest items at eye level, making sure you’re more likely to see them and more likely to buy them.
 
Instead of just noticing the items right before you, search the lower and higher shelves. These shelves often contain similar items for a much cheaper price. It’s also a good idea to know your grocery store’s floor plan. This prevents you from wandering the aisles and allowing unneeded items to wander into your shopping cart.

Stay Away From Brand Names: Sure, there may be a product out there that you just have to have. Dove, for instance, may be the only shower gel that doesn’t leave your skin dry and itchy. But, for most products on your grocery list, it probably doesn’t matter if you buy brand name or generic.
 
Things like oven cleaner, contact lens solution, saran wrap and toilet paper can all be bought in generic versions. These versions are much cheaper and often just as good as those that are branded.

Compare Price Per Unit, Not Price Per Package: You might come across two bags of rice equally priced. But, one may be three pounds, one may be four. Obviously, the four-pounder is the smarter buy.
 
Using a calculator (there is probably one on your cell phone) is a helpful way to make sure you are getting the optimal price per unit, not per package. Why pay $2 for a twelve ounce bottle of water when you can pay $2.50 for a twenty ounce bottle?

Use Coupons and Store Discount Cards: Yes, cutting coupons may seem so “1980,” but the money saved never goes out of style. Coupons are still a very viable way to save on grocery store items, particularly on double or triple coupon day. Just make sure you are using a coupon for an item you actually need.
 
What seems to have replaced the coupon in many stores is a store discount card. These cards are offered to patrons free of charge and offer a lot of savings. If you frequent the same store over and over, ask if they offer a savings card and, if they do, get one.

Come Prepared: A grocery store is not the best place for improv: coming unprepared often leaves you spending more than you planned. Before you leave your house, make a list of essential items, things like diapers, bread, butter, eggs. Make your list extremely detailed, including brand names and quantity. Arriving at a grocery store with a list keeps you on track and keeps you focused on buying only the things you need, instead of the things you want.

Leave the Kids at Home: Taking your kids to the grocery store can not only be a burden on your nerves, but it can also be one on your wallet. Just as grocery stores place pricier items at your eye level, they also place kid friendly items at the eye levels of your children. This leads to your kids begging, or even demanding through the art of a tantrum, that you buy them what they want. Take away this hassle altogether and shop without your children.

Check for Mistakes: Nothing in life is immune to mistakes, including the grocery store. Sometimes these mistakes may work in your favor, but most often they can cost you money. For this reason, it’s important to watch the cashier and make certain they don’t ring up one item two or three separate times. It’s also a good idea to check your receipt and make sure you were charged the right amount. Pay particular attention to sale items; make sure you paid the clearance price and not the original cost.
 
If you find a mistake, bring it to your cashier’s attention. More times than not, they will be happy to fix it. If they are defensive or unreceptive, request a manager. Remember the number one rule of patronage: the customer is always right.

Grocery shopping, though a necessity, is actually one of the easiest ways to save money. It takes a little effort, but you may eventually find yourself developing a money saving routine, one that allows you to have your reduced priced cake and eat it too.