Seeing what you actual spend on groceries may surprise you. Writing down what I spend weekly, keeps my spending in check. I know exactly where I went overboard and I can plan ahead for the upcoming week.

To lower your grocery bill, begin by figuring out what you actually spend each month on groceries. Keep track of every purchase, no matter how small. List the item, how much of that particular item you bought and the total price. I also include a column for miscellaneous tips such as prices at varying stores.

If you have a hard time reining in your spending, try dividing your grocery allotment by four. Then, take out a week’s worth of cash each week to spend on groceries. Once it is gone, it is gone. If you don’t spend it all in one week, set the money aside to stock up on loss leaders (sale items) another week.