1. Keep a grocery list. Gas for an extra trip to the store easily can add a dollar or more to your grocery bill.  Keep a grocery list where it’s easily accessible and stick to your list for added savings.  Saving on gas $1.00 or more.

2. Garbage check. We lose money whenever we toss food because it spoiled before we got around to eating it.  Make planning to avoid tossing foods a priority and try to recycle leftovers.  Saving on tossing out a half bag of lettuce is $1.00.

3. Brown bag it. If you normally eat out at noon, consider brown bagging it at least once a week. The typical fast food meal easily can cost $5.00 or more. Eating a sack lunch once a week can save you $2.50 or five days a week will save $12.50.

4. Coupon common sense. Use coupons only for foods you normally would eat, rather than for “extras.”  If you have access to a computer, check online for coupons. For starters, check the www.meijermealbox.com web site for meal planning, recipes and coupons.  Using seven $0.50 coupons for items you use will save $3.50.

5. Staple food stock up. Invest in staple foods when they’re on sale.  Reduced-price canned tuna or tomato sauce can be a good investment.  Stocking up on 10 cans of food reduced by $0.20 each will have you $2.00.

6. Store brand savings. Store brands are comparable in nutrition to name brands and taste no different.  Buying just four store brands and saving $0.50 each will save you $2.00.

7. Shop the specials. Plan your menus around sale items, especially more expensive purchases such as meat.  Buying several packages of meat on sale and freezing it may save quite a bit.  Buying meat on sale can save you $2.00.

These seven tips will save you minimum of $24 a week and $1,248.00 per year!