Your grocery list. It’s probably the single biggest monthly expense in your budget. Between making three meals a day, keeping the house clean and other assorted items your bill at the store can quickly skyrocket. Guess what? It doesn’t have to. We have ten techniques that you can use to lower your grocery bill. By using these tips every time you go to the super market, you can lower your bills and still get all the products you need.

10. Choose generic over bigger brands

This is one area that many may not be confortable with. It’s tough to give up specialty items that you have used for years and have grown comfortable with. But you know what? Many generic products are just as good as their bigger counterparts and can be as much as half the price. It may be a struggle at first but getting over your brand loyalty can save you big.

9. Clip those coupons!

If you check your paper, check the mail and browse through our coupons page, you can find many great discounts and vouchers. This will also help you save if you are having problems giving up your favorite trusted brands.

8. Be open about where you go

Every store offers different discounts on different merchandise. Keep an eye on the weekly ads and find the place that offers the best deals on what you need. If you have a couple of choices around you, shop around. You can get some great values by keeping your options open.

7. Create a meal plan before you go to the store

Meal plans are very helpful when you are making a shopping run. They allow you to plan ahead for the week so you won’t have to make an unexpected trip to the market and keep you on task so you only buy what you need.

6. Write out a list before you leave

This goes hand in hand with our last tip. By making a list of everything you need before you go to the store, you can avoid making unnecessary purchases. It will also help you streamline your shopping experience and get you to the checkout line faster.