Top 10 Money SavingTips For Grocery Shopping

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The economy is in a tailspin and people are scrambling to find ways to cut their overall expenses. Here are 10 tips on how to shop during the recession.

1.) Coupons, Coupons and more Coupons - Without a doubt, coupons are the best way to save, especially when you find stores that double coupons. Don't be embarrassed to use them, it just tells those watching that you are smart consumer, and people look up to that. WetumpkaCityPages.com has partnered with Coupons.com to help you save money & print free coupons anytime. You can also print coupons from CoolSavings . Both places give you hundreds of printable coupons to use at your favorite stores.

2.) Plan - Spend a little extra time planning your grocery trip. Make a list, check store flyers and stay focused when you go to the stores. Avoid impulse buys. You can check the weekly ads by going to our Weekly Ads Section. There's no need to rush all over town to find a paper. Just look for the store that you want to visit and you can see the ad online. Remember, Sunday and Wednesday are the days most ads come out.

3.) Organize - Organizing in advance cuts down on shopping time and keeps your coupon file current. Nothing worse then getting to the store and having an expired coupon.

4.) Check prices - Prices for some products are high, can you believe dried blueberries cost $8 for a tiny package? Check the prices on the products, when you realize how expensive certain products are you might be more willing to pass on them.

5.) Compare stores - Choosing the correct supermarket is important, it can mean a difference of up to 20% or more on your bill. Look for stores that have a good selection of products, are clean, double coupons and have good customer service.

6.) Choose less expensive alternatives - $29 per pound for filet mignon or $12 for a Flank Steak? Get creative on your cooking recipes and look into good spices and marinades. Sometime the less expensive alternatives actually taste better!

7.) Keep an eye out for special coupons - Duane Read just had a 20% coupon on anything in the store when you spend $100. These types of coupons are great, but make sure you are getting real savings. Anything less then 15% is not worth the effort.

8.) Forget brand loyalty - Some products are sacred and you wouldn't dare change them, but if you change from Crest to Colgate or vice versa will you really notice?

9.) Avoid gourmet grocery stores - This is a tricky one because some stores actually have gourmet and health foods for cheap, but for the most part, gourmet stores are much more expensive and you can get the same or similar products at the low cost alternative.

10.) Two for one -Two for one sales are great, especially for toiletries like deodorant, but sometimes you don't have to buy two to get the discount. Check with the store for their policy on this.