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 to cut cost without sacrificing nutrition. According to the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering, frozen vegetables and fruits are actually more nutritious than their fresh counterparts. The flash-freezing technology is responsible for trapping the vitamins immediately after the produce has ripened, which helps maintain flavor and tenderness. They last longer, too.

5. Buy nutritious foods. Buy foods with lots of nutritional value, like low-fat or nonfat milk, spinach, broccoli, oranges and apples. These items are packed with vitamins and nutrients which could go a long way in keeping families healthy.

6. Buy in bulk. If you know you need a lot of one item, why not check out a warehouse discount store? Savings from these stores can be tremendous, as much as 20 to 30 percent compared to supermarkets or department stores.

7. Buy store brand. Consider buying store brand rather than manufacturer brands. Savings on items could cut a family’s annual grocery bill by as much as 40 percent.

8. Coupons. Look for coupons in the newspaper, magazines, mailbox, store mailers and online. Monitor http://www.thegrocerygame.com, http://www.coupons.com, http://www.coolsavings.com and other sites for money-saving coupons. You can save hundreds of dollars a year.

9. Shop around. Consumers may want to check out weekly specials at different markets and compare prices to stretch grocery dollars.

10. Make use of leftovers. Don’t throw away leftovers. Consider shredding leftover chicken, for example, for enchiladas or taquitos to create a whole new meal.

Courtesy of Got Milk?