• Buy bread at thrift bakeries. Many national bakeries have outlet stores for day-old or damaged products. The products are still quite fresh and a whole lot cheaper than when sold in the supermarket. Wrap items in freezer wrap or put in freezer bags for long-term storage.
• Shop farmers markets. Not only will you be buying fresh, but by eliminating the middleman, almost everything will be cheaper than at the grocery store.
• Pay attention to details. Some retailers guarantee that if an item doesn't ring up at the correct price, you get it for FREE or at a reduced price.
• Don't be fooled by the "Buy 2 for $5" come-on. You don't have to buy two or three or any number of something to get the the discount price. You can buy only as much as you need. If the sale is two for $5, you can still buy one for $2.50. Be sure you keep tabs on such items at the check-out counter, and bring it to the attention of the cashier if it's wrung up incorrectly.
• Bigger isn't always cheaper. This is where unit pricing comes in. Many times a smaller size is actually the same price per unit as the larger one.
• Always send in for the rebate. Whether it's $2 or $20, it's worth it -- unless the cost of sending it in is more than the rebate.
• Avoid single-serving packages. Sure, they're convenient, but they're outrageously expensive. Better to buy large sizes and re-package in smal baggies if you're sending kids off to school with them or if you're taking your lunch to work.
• Think frugal. Stay away from Swiffer's and Automatic Shower Cleaners and Wipes and Huggies. Old wash cloths, towels, even T-shirts make great dusters along with a can of Pledge (you can even make it Lemon Pledge) and some elbow grease. Amonia, vinegar or Spic N' Span still work great for cleaning floors, walls, and most any hard surface. And good old cloth diapers save a ton of money not to mention freeing up more space at the land-fill and the fact that you'll have a life-time supply of dust cloths.
• Request price matching. Some stores will honor all competitors' ads. Locate such a store in your area and you'll save time and gas as well.
• Try discount stores. Some cities have discount grocery stores like Grocery Outlet or try Dollar Stores for huge savings. Some of the brands may not be familiar to you, but the product is the same in most cases.
• Chcek out your local chain drugstore. Walgreens, Longs, Rite-Aid are not just drug stores anymore. Some, in fact, art mega-drugstores selling everything from drugs to sundries, canned goods, candy, wine, sodas and much, much more at prices lower than supermarkets.
• Don't shop store-to-store for savings. Determine which items you buy freqently and check out their prices at different stores online or in the newspaper. (Food day ads for most stores all come on the same day in the local newspaper.) If you plan to buy a lot of meat and you find one store has the least expensive meat, do your shopping for the week at that store. Same goes for produce and general grocery items. In time, you will determine which stores are best for which food lines and will KNOW where to shop for them.

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