5 easy tips to save on food

People can do without all sorts of things, but nearly everyone I know needs to eat. That's why we want to know how to get the most for our money on groceries. I'm not going to tell you to shop at a cheaper store because I'm assuming you have already found a store that works for you.

But here are ways to save money at every store, and they aren't even hard to do. Not a bit. Really.

Take a look.

Follow the "U." All the fresh items that are healthy — and cheaper, too, than most processed food — are located in a horseshoe pattern around the perimeter of the store.

At my store, you usually see the bakery when you first walk in, then the produce, then you hang a sharp left to the meat counter at the very rear, next to the dairy, cheeses and sauces.

If you don't want to be tempted by prepared and packaged foods, head first in a horseshoe around the store. Then see what else you need — or just hurry and get out of there!

Search the upper and lower shelves. Believe it or not, food companies pay grocery stores for their shelf positions, knowing that most of the time, your eye is going directly to the middle shelves.

That's why you can save some money by scanning high and low, looking for brands that don't pay those kinds of fees and hence might cost a bit less. Case in point: cheaper bagged cereals on the breakfast aisle.

Check the bargain bins. In the back corner of nearly every store, there's a bin where dented and soon-to-be expired products are placed. Take a look at what's there; you might find something you can use for half price or less.

My friend, Sam, always looks for the marked-down items at Fresh & Easy, which she says she finds in the late afternoon or early evening.

Make a list and stick to it! I know it's an old chestnut, but it really works. Every Wednesday morning, I read every single major supermarket ad. Then, armed with that information, I make a list and do quick surgical strikes at the markets. I buy what's on sale, fast, and then I get out of there.

Strolling around encourages impulse purchases, as does bringing your kids along. This is especially true at warehouse stores like Costco and Sam's Club, which know how to lure you into buying things you don't need.

Buy more in a single trip. Every visit to the supermarket presents more opportunities for impulse purchases that drive up your bill. The authors of "America's Cheapest Family" say they only go to the grocery store once a month to avoid this costly move.

They freeze their milk and buy produce in bulk, using up items first that don't last, like strawberries, and saving fresh items like apples and carrots with a longer shelf life that can be eaten later in the month.

I can't really see myself only shopping once a month, but I've adopted some of their habits, like buying more apples and root vegetables when they're on sale and stashing them in the bottom of the fridge for later, since they last a long time.

An extra freezer might help you save money, but you really have to think about whether the cost of purchasing the appliance — as well as the increased utility bills that go along with using it — will outweigh the savings.