GROCERY BUDGETING IDEAS

Take a trip to the grocery store these days and you will experience sticker shock! This year alone, I have noticed most of my grocery items increasing by a dollar or more. Feeding just two in our household costs over $350 a month. That doesn't include our weekend splurges eating out.

Over the years I've learned some handy tips to save money on food expenses.

• Take a trip to your local farmers market. The produce is much cheaper since the middleman distributor is eliminated. Plus, the quality is much better than store bought produce. This is because no time is wasted in getting the product to you.

• Use coupons whenever possible. They can decrease your grocery bill substantially.

• Shop at discount stores like Big Lots or the Dented Can. The boxes and cans may be dented and that can save you a lot of moohla. Often times, the stores will get a shipment of good quality product that was taken off of the shelves due to advertising reasons. For example, the holiday boxes of cookies and cereal that are left after the season is over.

• Consider joining a local food cooperative. A food cooperative is a group of like-minded individuals who wish to purchase fresh produce, meat, etc., from local providers. Usually, a standard fee is charged which will get you loads more than if you were to try and buy the same items at the grocery store. Because the coop buys the food in bulk quantities, and takes whatever is in season, the resulting savings are well worth it.