The layout of a grocery store has a lot to do with how much you will spend there. When you need to buy a few staple items like milk and bread, you have to travel all over the store to find them. The point of this is to force you to walk up and down aisles and possibly purchase something from this aisle that you really could do without. The longer a grocery store can keep you in the store, the more you are likely to spend. Grocery stores also know that making you walk as far as they an inside the store will make it more likely that you will pick up some impulse items. Grocery stores are designed to make you walk all over to get the necessary items you need. By making a list before you go to the grocery store and sticking to it, you can avoid being trapped by impulse items. Start a habit of going to the grocery store one a week instead of multiple times. Smaller trips to the grocery store will increase your risk of spending more money and purchasing items you really don't need.

The items in a grocery store are laid out to get your attention. Brand name manufacturers pay to have their items displayed at eye level because they know you are more likely to purchase an item that you can easily see as you walk down the aisle. The products that are placed at eye level are generally the most expensive. They also know that children are an easy target, so beware of products that are enticing to your child as they will also be placed at their eye level. Take a few moments to look at the surrounding products before you simply purchase the one that you can easily see. Store brands tend to be on the top shelf of bottom shelf, and other similar products are placed together and they generally are a much better price for the same product.

Beware of sale items. Many grocery store will advertise a specified number of items that are at sale prices (called loss leaders). These items are specifically geared at making you come to the store. These items can be bargains, but not every one of them is truly on sale or is a bargain. The aisle ends are reserved for bargain or sale items, and they aren't always the best deal out there. Often the discounted items will be displayed next to higher priced products to show you they are on sale. You should go up the aisle and search for similar products and you will find that the sale item is more expensive than other similar products. Never focus on the ads, always focus on the price when you are grocery shopping. If you weren't planning to buy the item until you saw it, you don't really need it so do your best to keep walking.

It is well known that the packaging of a product will generally sell the product to the consumers. Bright colors like yellow and red tend to catch the eyes of shoppers and entice them to purchase the product. Keep focused on shopping and don't purchase something just because it grabs your attention. Stick to your shopping list and keep walking to the next aisle.

Packaging also includes smaller items that are placed in a larger box. Manufacturers know that consumers think they are getting more for their money when they purchase things in a larger sized package. Bulking items together saves the manufacturer on packaging, shipping, and stocking fees, but just because the package is larger doesn't mean it is a better deal. Calculate the cost per unit or weight before you select the larger package. Smaller packages of an item are usually cheaper than the item in a larger package.

The check-outs are another place where people are prone to spend more money on things they don't need. You have seen the sodas and candy bars that are next to the check-out, so you know how they tend to tempt people. This is a great place for grocery stores to get shoppers to buy impulse items because they have your attention while you wait in line to pay your groceries. Every little item is squeezed in next to the checkout to peak your interest and make you purchase impulse items. A great way to avoid purchasing impulse items is to plan your shopping during off peak hours. Never shop on the weekend since this is when grocery stores are the most crowded. Avoid shopping in the evening when everyone has just gotten off work. Many grocery stores are staying open 24 hours, so try to do shopping late at night or early in the morning. When the check out lanes are bare, it is much easier to get in and out of the store quickly.

Coupon clipping and paying attention to the grocery ads will help you save money on groceries. Think of coupons as cash and you might save them on a regular basis. When you purchase an item you really need and you have a coupon for it, you will save yourself a little cash. By practicing good coupon habits on a consistent basis, the money will begin to add up and could be well over a couple hundred dollars a year. Start by grabbing your Sunday paper and clip out the coupons you can use for the week. Many stores offer discount cards to frequent shoppers, be weary of their advertised sale price. If you forget to use your discount card, you will pay full price for an item that is on sale. Take a look at your bill at the end and make sure the cashier actually scanned your card. Always check your receipt and if you notice your membership card wasn't scanned, go back to the store and have the manager refigure the bill and give you a cash credit. Check for stores that price match. If Super Wal-Mart is further away, it may be worth the extra drive because they will price match most other stores prices. This will save you extra stops at 2 or 3 stores who are running sales on specified items.

Depending upon the grocery store, you may be able to combine manufacturer's coupons with store coupons. Many of the clerks don't know the policy on coupons and will ring up 2 coupons for one item. When you are matching sales with coupons, it is better to buy just one item instead of two or more. If you have two coupons, then it may be okay to use a buy one, get one coupon because you are purchasing two items. The buy one, get one price sale is generally to get you to buy more. Think about the product and decide if you really do need two.

A great way to save money on groceries is to match the coupons with items that are already on sale. Take a look at the weekly ads and flyers and match coupons with the items. Grocery stores don't list everything that is on sale in their ads, so be sure to take the coupons with you as you select items off the shelf, check to see if you have a coupon for it.

You can also shop at multiple grocery stores to help you save on your groceries. Match the coupons with the correct grocery store and purchase the on sale items from them instead of from the grocery store that is closer to your house.