Grocery Store Savings Secrets - 8 Ways to Save Today

Grocery store spending can comprise a huge chunk of your family's budget. Fortunately, this is one of the easiest places you can cut back your spending and save money.

Here are 8 must-know tips that will save you big at the supermarket checkout.

1. Never go to the grocery store hungry. Always go to the store after you eat a meal, so your empty stomach won't lure you into making a bunch of impulse buys.

2. Never go the store without a list. If you are just wandering the aisles aimlessly, you'll be more likely to add things to the cart that you don't need. Again, cutting out those impulse buys will cut your supermarket bill drastically.

3. Take advantage of all coupon sources. Time was, savvy shoppers spent hours clipping coupons each week. But with the advent of new coupon technology, you can save money without all the hassle of paper coupons. You'll want to use your savings card, if available, at your local store, and take advantage of the printed coupons your grocery checker hands you along with your receipt because these are often printed to correspond with the items you buy regularly.

You'll also want to Print grocery coupons online. All you need to do is check the box next to the coupon you want and print. This way, you don't have to sort through your coupons for items you'll never use, and you'll never waste money on items that no one in your family enjoys just because you had a coupon.

4. Use a credit card that rewards you for your grocery purchases. These points accumulate quickly if you spend a lot at the store, and that means you could buy something nice for your family – or even take a vacation.

5. Reduce and re-use. What items on your grocery list can you use more than once? Rinse out your plastic freezer bags and use food containers whenever possible instead of plastic baggies. This is a more eco-friendly choice, as well.

6. Save on non-food items by buying in bulk at a superstore. Comparison shop your local discount stores for things like paper towels, bathroom tissue, as well as more expensive items, such as water filters and light bulbs.

7. Try the store brands. Buy store brand items or items in bulk whenever you can.

8. Wash your produce. As soon as you get home from the store, wash and dry your produce and make it accessible to your family. You'll want to cut up vegetables and put the washed fruit in a bowl on the counter. If your fruits and veggies are easy to find and ready to eat, you'll be less likely to find that plastic bag full of liquid veggie buried deep in the fridge in a few weeks.

Saving at the grocery store is really a matter of planning ahead and making informed consumer choices.