It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, who doesn’t want to save some money when they head out to the store, even if you’re simply picking up some groceries. It’s common to spend a quick hundred dollars on just a few bags of groceries, and it’s common to get annoyed when the cashier tells you your total.

Everyone needs to eat, and everyone needs to clothe themselves. So why does it have to cost so much to do all of that? Well, it really doesn’t, you just need to know the best ways to save.

Start With A List

Never go to the store without a list of the items you are shopping for. If you are gift shopping, you should at least have a list of who you are shopping for. The list will help you stay on track, and hopefully keep you from impulse shopping and overspending.

A list also helps you remember everything you need to get so that you don’t need to waste gas to run back to the store again.

[Image source en.wikipedia.org]

Use Coupons

You don’t need to be a crazy coupon lady in order to save some money here and there with a coupon. You also don’t need to buy your local Sunday paper anymore when it comes to using coupons. You can print them from online, or even download them directly to your grocery card if your store has a frequent shopper program.

You can also find coupon codes online, which can be used for far more than just groceries. By searching for your favorite stores, both online and brick and mortar, you can find a lot of coupon deals, and they can scan codes right off your phone at the store. You can download a shopping app right to your smartphone.

Shop Around

With the internet it makes it far easier to shop stores ads and shop around to different stores so that you can find the best deal. Doing your window shopping online, at least, can save you from using up a ton of gas driving from store to store searching for what you want. You might even find better deals online.

Don’t Skip Clearance

When you are shopping online or in store, don’t forget to check out the clearance department. Sometimes you can find some really good deals on clearance items, and you just might find exactly what was on your shopping list for a far better price than you thought you’d have to pay.

You don’t need to break the bank on groceries or gift shopping, you just need to be more wise about where you are shopping and what you are buying. Shop for the best deals and you can save a great deal.