I you’re looking for ways to trim your budget, you might want to take a hard look at your grocery shopping habits. Sloppy shopping routines repeated throughout the year can make you waste a frightening amount of money.

Kiplinger offers these suggestions for shopping with frugal skill:

* Comparison shop before you go. Assuming a certain story always has the lowest prices is foolish, because grocery stores tend to attract customers with discounts on some items while subtly raising the prices on others to ensure a profit. Check out shopping ads before you head out, and hit a store with price-matching to make sure you pay as little as possible without having to store-hop.

* Look for cheaper substitutes. Store brands are often indistinguishable from more expensive brand names, and chicken tends to be less expensive than red meat.

* Avoid prepared foods. Pre-made dishes, such as deli sandwiches and snack platters, can cost a lot more than the sum of their parts. Other examples are packets of shredded cheese and bagged salads.

Save Money on Groceries Without Coupons [Kiplinger] (Thanks, Dennis!)

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