These are trying financial times. It seems like every time you turn on the news or read the paper it is just more bad news about the economy. The suffering goes far beyond wall street and hits the average family where it hurts most, they pocket book. Most families these days are doing what they can to save a few dollars here and there. For some it is just good planning for others it is necessary because of financial struggles.

Saving money on your family’s grocery bill can make a huge difference. Food prices are rising faster than your paycheck so find a few ways to save some money the next time you head to the grocery store can be a big help with the family budget.

Here are a few tips to think about the next time you head to the grocery store.

• Shop on a full stomach. If you are hungry when you go to the grocery store you are much more likely to buy more than you need, especially expensive snack foods.
• Shop with a list. Trying to remember what you need at the grocery store can be a challenge without a list and often times results in buying more than you need.
• Shop alone. Having your spouse or the kids along tends to result in more stuff in the grocery cart than you intended.
• Know your grocery store and how grocery stores work. Knowing the layout of your store can not only make your trip more efficient it can also make it cheaper as you can avoid those areas of the store where the most display items are. Stores put up displays of high profile, high cost items in areas where they are most likely to catch your eye. If you know the store is doing this it is easier to avoid.
• Buy store or generic brands when possible. For the most part these no-name brands are just as good as the name brand but will cost you much less.
• Use coupons or store discount cards. Some stores even print the amount you saved at the bottom of the receipt. You’ll feel good knowing you saved some extra money.
• Check the unit price and buy in bulk when it is cost effective for your family.
• Make fewer trips to the grocery store. Try to go only once a week instead of stopping by several times a week. You are more likely to pick up extras that you don’t really need when you shop more frequently.

Making a few changes to the way you shop and what you buy can make a big difference on the bottom line of your next grocery bill. Saving money on your family budget is a good thing no matter what the economy is doing, but in trying financial times it is even more important.

What tricks do you use to help save money on your family’s grocery bill?