Save on your food bill

By Courtney Sommer
The Examiner

Buying food can get expensive, but it is something that we cannot go without doing. With assistance from the National Debt Counseling Corp., here are The Examiner’s Top 10 ways to save at the grocery store.

10 Don’t buy bottled drinks. Tap water is just as safe as bottled water, but much cheaper.
9 Don’t stop for samples. Sampling products tempts you to buy food you do not need and, most likely, did not go to the store to buy.
8 Think twice about junk food. Junk food is expensive and unhealthy. Buy healthier food that is more filling and won’t make you feel bad when you eat it.
7 Beware of buying perishable items. Don’t buy something you won’t use before it expires.
6 Skip the toiletries for now. Save your toiletries for discount stores where they can cost much less.
5 Buy generic brands. Many times, the generic brands offer the exact same product as a name brand, just in different packaging. You can use this rule on prescriptions, too, to save more money.

4 Use coupons. Stores have coupons for many of their items that can save you money. However, don’t use coupons just because you have them. Use only the coupons for foods that you normally buy.

3 Make a budget. Plan a monthly grocery budget and try to shop within your budget. Try not to buy more than you need.

2 Eat before shopping. Shopping when hungry can tempt you to buy food that you don’t need and might not even want when you get it home. This will help you pass up the big bag of potato chips.

1 Before you shop, make a list of the things you actually need. When you shop, be sure to stick to your list and only buy the things you need.