During difficult economic times, it’s important to tighten the belt wherever possible. For consumers like you and me, this means looking at our most common expenses and seeing how we can cut back to more manageable spending levels.

One of the most basic expenses that most everyone has is grocery store bills. We all have to eat, don’t we? Unfortunately, everything is more expensive as inflation increases and crop production is more expensive. For part one in this 10-part series on how to survive the recession, here are a few helpful hints that should make your tale of the register less painful.

The list you’ll need to follow…

1. Be Prepared. Take a look at the inside of your refrigerator and see what you need. Make a list, clip coupons (or find them online) for what you’ve written down and stick to that list. If you know what you generally need far in advance and coupon Web sites don’t have what you’re looking for, you can sometimes buy valuable coupons in bulk via eBay. Moreover, if your local store doubles coupons or has a club card, be sure to take advantage of the savings. Finally, read labels to see that you’re getting the most for your money.
2. Eat before you go. If you don’t do this, you’re more likely to be tempted by impulse food buys that stray from your shopping list.
3. Be brand smart. National brands are certainly more visible and sexy. However, generic brands often have the exact same ingredients and taste just as good. Don’t fall prey to advertising hype; commercials aren’t a part of a balanced diet.
4. Pay close attention to displays. Check out the book “The Science of Shopping” by Paco Underhill. After just a few minutes of reading, you’ll learn that successful retailers arrange items to maximize sales. They want you to buy their higher-priced premium items, so they’ll be much easier to see than the low-priced generic substitutes. You’ll see this on aisle shelves, island and end caps. Don’t even THINK about buying things from end caps or islands… those are almost always higher-priced impulse items. Look high and low on the shelves, away from convenient eye level. That’s where the cheaper generics are hidden. Sometimes you’ll even be able to find good buys in clearance bins hidden at the very back of the store. Don’t miss these!
5. Pay attention at checkout. I know it’s fun to read what’s on the magazine rack, but you need to watch as each item is scanned. You want to make sure the proper price scans for each and every item. Grocery stores are usually pretty good about keeping their computers up to date, but mistakes will inevitably occur. If you see something scans overpriced, tell the checker right away. People behind you in line may grumble and pout, but this is about saving you money. They’ll do the same thing when they’re checking out, so what are they complaining about?

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