Bulk. Buying a 5-pound bag of oranges instead of loose fruit can save you up to 40 percent. Buy according to how much your family really needs to eat.
Do It Yourself. Expect to dish out 40 percent more for presliced, packaged produce, be it squash, pineapple or watermelon. A smarter idea: Buy the whole fruit or vegetable and grab a knife for a fast five minutes of slicing, dicing and storing.
Every Other Week. Most people shop once a week, then run to the store almost daily to pick up additional items such as a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread. Not good. Studies show that impulse buys jump 23 percent on unplanned trips.
Generic. You could save as much as 60 percent by buying store brands Your best bets: canned vegetables and cereal.
Two For One. Cook once, eat twice: Stock up on sale items so you can make at least two nights' worth of meals at once.
Couponing. Don't bother with scissors: Websites such as redplum.com, smartsource.com, allyou.com, compile the coupons available in your area. Just print them out or load them onto a store loyalty card.
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