Top 10 money-saving shopping tips

1. Plan meals. Plan a week’s worth of meals and stick to a grocery list. If you know what you are going to cook and serve for the week, only buy what you need and can afford.

2. Promotional giveaways. Watch out for sales. During the holidays, many supermarkets offer freebies such as a bird or ham. Other stores sell popular holiday items at a reduced price.

3. Check out markdowns. Markdowns can save as much as 50 percent off the original price. Ask the store manager when meat, dairy, bread and produce could be marked down.

4. Buy frozen produce. Buy fruit and vegetables frozen rather than fresh...