5 Easy ways to Quickly Save Money on your Groceries

Couponing can be a pretty time consuming part of your life.  Some weeks I simply don't have the time.  But I still refuse to pay full retail for my groceries.  So here are some quick tips to save a few bucks even on your impromptu trips to the store.

#1  Bring your own Bags
Almost all grocery stores offer a discount for bringing your own reusable grocery bags.  Leave the bags in your car after each trip so they are always there.  When you get in your car to go to the store stick the bags under your purse so you won't forget them on your way in.  Some stores give $0.05 or $0.10 per bag that you use. Pack your bags light and use more bags!  Some stores and places in the country are actually moving to CHARGE you if you use their disposable bags, paper or plastic!  So don't pay extra if you don't have to!

#2 Grab a Sales Flyer
Stores usually keep copies of the week's flyer at the entrance or by customer service.  Browse through the flyer while your making your way through the aisles and look for the best deals.  Sometimes it will trigger your memory of things you needed that are on sale.  Maybe you intended to run in and grab beef but chicken is on sale.  Make the switch and save a buck!

#3 Shop In Season Produce
If you aren't sure what's in season, it's usually pretty easy to tell.  The in-season produce is usually in abundance, it's usually on sale or cheaper than the other produce.  And frankly, it will look bigger and better.  Many times stores will display the in-season produce in prime prominent spots in the store.  In Season produce tastes better, lasts longer and is usually bigger in size than off-season picked produce.

#4 Check the Unit Price
Sometimes things seem like a great price when they are on sale but they aren't.  Compare your brand versus it's competitors and the store brands.  Stores now offer "unit price" on their store price labels.  It will allow you to compare "apples to apples."  If you are looking at a 16oz bottle of one brand and a 20oz bottle of another it's hard to tell which one is the better deal based on price alone.  Unit price will make it easy.  It will compare the two broken down into the cost of each unit.  So for this they may break it down into per ounce pricing or per 10 oz pricing.  Either way you care comparing the price at the same size so it is easy to tell which one is cheaper.

#5 Review your receipt
Occasionally you will find errors on your receipt.  Maybe something rang up twice by mistake.  Maybe something was supposed to be on sale but didn't ring up accordingly.  Maybe you even have a coupon for an item but forgot it.  In all these scenarios you should bring your receipt and any missing coupons to customer service and have them adjust it.  They may give you cash or a return to your card.  Some stores may give you store credit as well.