Saving Money at the Grocery Store

It's not just working adults that are feeling the squeeze of the economy. College students have always had to watch their budgets closely, and these days its only worse. So with the economy on the decline everyone is taking a step back and reexamining where their disposable incomes are going. One easy way to save some cash for college students is shopping for essentials with a more frugal attitude. Comparing gas prices, not eating fast food every day, and even checking online and different book stores for the cheapest prices on books are just some of the ways to expand the dollar. Grocery shopping is a huge budget maker but has never seemed to be college student's forte. LifeWhile.com wants to give tips to those fighting the supermarket battle. Below is part of their effort. It is the top 5 ways to save money while grocery shopping. The entire list is 15 different money saving advice points. Perfect for a college student, or anyone trying to limit their greenback use.

1. Don't shop for groceries when you are hungry. It's just common sense, right? And yet, it's the most important thing when it comes to saving money and staying under budget at the grocery store. Going to the grocery store hungry will make everything look good, and therefore a necessity, causing you to spend more money than you should. Have a snack before you go, and your budget will be happier.

2. Always make a list.Creating lists will not only help ensure that you don't find yourself back at the grocery store three days later because you forgot to get some eggs, but they will also lead you to exact points of the grocery store for the items that you need and help you to bypass the impulse items that you really don't need. Focus on the list and try not to diverge from it.Along the same lines, try to cut the number of visits you make to the grocery store. Instead of shopping twice a week, shop for two weeks' worth of groceries at a time.Why? One study says the average U.S. consumer spends more than $10 on impulse buys every trip to the supermarket. By cutting trips from twice a week to once every two weeks, you can save more than $500 a year on your bill and still get every item on your list.

3. Make a menu for the week.A menu for the week serves a similar purpose to a list. Pick meals for the week that all incorporate similar ingredients so that you don't have to buy a lot of different items.

4. Grocery shop backward.The cheapest items in the grocery store (produce) are the first items that you see. Start from the other end and work your way back. You'll be purchasing the most expensive items first and will know how much you have remaining for the fruits and vegetables.Also, make sure your veggies and fruit are dry before you put them on the scale. If they have just been sprayed with water, they will weigh more and cost more.

5. Look down.Here's tip you may not have heard of before: Look down while shopping at the grocery store. In many grocery stores, the best bargains are closer to the floor. The pricier items are often at eye level. Check out LifeWhile.com for the complete list. LifeWhile.com specializes in articles and advice for making the most of life.