No matter how many people there may be in your family, your grocery bill can be one of the most expensive items you have to pay for. But with some planning and creativity, there are at least seven ways you can cut your spending at the grocery store.

1. The first thing you can do is set a budget for your groceries. Realistically, your spending should be the average over the last several months. As you develop your talents in discount shopping, you can reduce the amounts (or put the savings in a fund for other needs).
2. Sit down with your family and plan out a two-week menu. Planning two weeks’ worth of meals will allow you to reuse the menu over and over without causing your family to burn out on the items. This is a time-saving tip as well.
3. Use the menu (and the recipes for the different items) to develop your grocery list. Check your pantry, fridge, and freezer first so you don’t buy too much of an item. It can be helpful to put the grocery list in the order that you will find the items in the store (bakery, deli, dairy, freezer, and meat). Jot down your estimate for the cost and total it up. If you don’t come in under budget, you may have to do some adjusting or cutting.
4. Go through the paper or search the internet for any coupons available for the items you need. You can also ask your friends and family to save coupons for you. Match your coupons to the list (and note on the list that you have a coupon and what it is for – two for one, off of three, or whatever the discount may be).
5. Start a coupon club. Everyone brings the coupons they don’t need or want, and whoever needs them is free to use them. If there aren’t enough people in your area interested, you can look online for online groups.
6. Search the papers and flyers for any special discounts that are coming up at the grocery stores. The smaller your community, the more limited you may be, but there are still some great buys out there (especially when you can combine them with coupons).
7. Buy in bulk when possible (and when cheaper). Compare the prices of the individual items and the bulk products. When it costs less, purchase your non-perishables in bulk (paper products, cleaning supplies, and pet or baby needs). Meat and chicken can also be bought in bulk for good discounts, but be sure to package them individually before putting them in the freezer.

You can cut your grocery bill with just these seven simple steps. Before you know it, you will find a way to get the store to pay you for shopping there.