I recently wrote an article in the local Home and Star News. It is not available online and I wanted to share this with everyone.

I am constantly reminded of the fact that I am no longer a single woman in my early 20’s with no one else to worry about but myself. I’m a mom and wife that spend what feels like half of my life in the grocery store. When you have a family it feels as though any funds doesn’t go to your bills goes directly to the grocery store.

If one of your resolutions for 2011 is to spend less and save more here are some great tips on how to be frugal without turning your life upside down. Budgeting your grocery bill is great way to start cutting costs. These are the same easy steps I took to get started and eventually incorporated it into my weekly routines.

Set a grocery budget and stick to it. In a perfect world we wouldn’t have to worry about how much money we spend but every family is different as are their needs. So it’s important to make sure to set a realistic budget. Sticking to a budget might be easier said than done however with theses tips I hope it changes your spending habits.

Know what’s on sale. Make a point of going through the weekly circulars from your local grocery store. If they don’t come to your home every week most weekly ads are available online or through a mobile phone app.

Plan your meals. I always plan my meals for the week depending on what’s on sale. I start with a protein and work my way from there. Also always be aware of what’s in your pantry and fridge so you are not over buying especially perishable items.

Create and stick to a shopping list. Make sure that your list includes prices and quantity. If you’re a huge impulse buyer like myself having a list will help you keep you from purchasing items you don’t need. It will also help you from forgetting items to avoid unnecessary trips back to the store.

Sign up for store loyalty cards. Many sale prices will not be available to you without a store loyalty card. Keep them on your keychain, use your phone number to look it up at the register or store it electronically on your mobile phone with different apps available.

Use coupons. They are available to you more than you know. You don’t even have to go looking for coupons because Valpak, Smart Source and Money Mailer come directly to your home through the mail and can also be found with weekly circulars. Another way they fall right into your hand is with your receipt at the grocery store. I like those the best because they offer coupons for products you are already buying plus no clipping! Additional coupons can also be found in the Sunday paper and online at websites like Cellfire.com or Coupons.com. You can now save your coupons from Cellfire and Coupons.com directly onto selected store loyalty cards again no clipping!

Match coupons. I’m sure you’ve heard stories or have seen of people drastically cutting their grocery bills 75% off. Accomplishing something like on a smaller scale for your family is not as hard as you would think. Match coupons with sale items for extra savings. Get products at the fraction of the cost and in some cases you can even get products for free.

Prioritize your purchases. If you get to the register and find that you went over your budget do not be embarrassed to put items back. Prioritize your purchases so that if you happen to go over your budget you can easily make the quick decision and know what items can put back then purchase at another time.

Stock up. You shouldn’t have to pay full price on non-perishable items if you don’t need to. If you see a great deal make room in your pantry and stock up. You can find that I always have a little stockpile of pasta and sauce. Remember when stocking up on sale items always make sure to check the expiration date on perishable goods.

Get rain checks. If you find that you’ve missed out on a sale item ask for a rain check, if available, and get it at the sale price when it’s back in stock. Limitations will still apply.

Check your receipt. Always check your receipt as you are leaving the store. This way if you find that you’ve been overcharged or they forgot to scan your coupons you can go straight to customer service and have them adjust it.

Use reusable grocery totes. Most stores will offer a $.05 rebate for each bag. Might not seem like much now but it will really add up.

Include the whole family. You shouldn’t be the only one taking these steps. It is important to make this a team effort. Include your spouse, children and the whole family on your plans, budget and goals. Instill in them that you work hard for your money and you shouldn’t spend more than you have to.

Finally, put all these steps together. Every week I sit down at my kitchen table go through my circulars, plan my meals, make my list and match my coupons. I might not always be cutting it down by 75% but I know that I’m not spending more than I have to. I hope with these tips that you make time to apply them to your shopping routine.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: This post reflects my personal experience and opinion which may differ from yours. No monetary compensation was provided for this post.