11 Grocery Shopping Secrets: Tips to Save $$

Use helpful tools, like a written shopping list or a shopping app on your phone, to plan what to buy, so that you don't buy unnecessary things, said Jodie Fitz, creator of the Price Chopper Kids Cooking Club based in Albany, New York. Useful grocery shopping apps include Grocery IQ and Grocery Pal, both of which help you create grocery lists and find relevant coupons (no clipping required!).

Browse through the sales fliers and base your weekly meals on the bargains offered there. "For example, if skinless, boneless chicken is on sale for $1.99 a pound, it's going to be in my recipe mix for the week," Fitz said. "And I'm going to purchase extra, cut it, pound it, wrap it and freeze it for the future for when it's not on sale."

Also, learn the prices of items that you purchase frequently so you'll know a good deal when you see it, especially unadvertised specials, DeLaney said. In fact, make sure the packages you are buying are a good price. "Pay attention to unit pricing," Gallegos advised. "Ounce-for-ounce, bigger packages often provide the most value for your dollar, but not always. Check the unit pricing displayed on tags on store shelves. Midsize packages sometimes will be the best purchases." Use the Apples 2 Oranges app to help you compare unit pricing.

Another way to cut costs is to do more prep work at home. "For food items, remember that the convenience of bagged lettuce, precut fruit and veggies, and shredded cheese comes with a higher cost," Gallegos said. "It only takes a few extra minutes to rinse lettuce and tear it by hand or to shred a block of cheese." He also recommended skipping the more expensive single-serving packages in favor of larger sizes. Just dole it out into smaller portions in sandwich bags or small containers, he said.

Along these same lines, shopping the bulk bins can build up savings, too. "Many times, it's cheaper to stock up on items like nuts and dried fruits from the bulk bins rather than using prepackaged products," DeLaney said. "Sacrifice an ounce of convenience, and watch the savings add up."

Bottled drinks are another item that can drain your grocery budget. "For juices, lemonades and sodas, remember that their plastic packaging adds to the cost," Gallegos said. "Instead, think about buying powdered mixes and making your own at home." Better yet: Just drink tap water.

For savings on fruit and vegetables, DeLaney suggested shopping for produce that is in season, especially at the farmers market. (The app Locavore can help you determine what's in season in your area.) "Many times you'll find fresher foods and lower prices at your local farmers market -- and occasionally you can negotiate the price down just by asking," she said. Purchasing frozen or canned produce can also result in savings, DeLaney stated.

With all produce, make the most of your purchase. "Do your best not to waste produce you do buy," DeLaney said. "If you notice the bananas are rotting, put them in the fridge and make banana bread, or freeze other things to make juices or smoothies later."

Warehouse clubs can be another source of grocery savings. "Smaller families and singles tend to overlook warehouse clubs for groceries, thinking everything comes only in bulk," Gallegos said. "In reality, many things don't come in large quantities and don't perish easily, and there are many 'individual' items." For instance, many cereals come in a two-bag box, or you can get two jars of spaghetti sauce bundled together. He also recommended teaming up with friends, family and neighbors to split large purchases.