Smart Ways to Trim Your Grocery Bill

TheGroceryGame.com's Teri Gaul Shows Kelly Wallace How To Save In The Supermarket Aisles

(CBS)  Anyone who's been to the grocery store lately knows: The price of food has been steadily rising.

But Teri Gault, CEO and founder of TheGroceryGame.com, teaches people how to save money on food.

She went shopping with Kelly Wallace Friday and, as they revealed on the next day's Saturday Early Show, they had the same shopping list - but the results were quite different.

Dairy Prices

There are a couple of ways to combat these price increases.

This week, in fact, many grocery stores have huge sales on dairy products.

Why? Because sales go in cycles; one week can be beauty products, one can be baby products, or paper products, and so this week is good for dairy.

But another secret is that gas stations and drug stores want you to come there, and they'll sell you milk for less than at a grocery because they want you to patronize them.

You also have the option of freezing milk, but it changes consistency when frozen and wouldn't necessarily be what you want.

Yet another option is buying boxed milk, such as Parmelat, or you can buy powdered milk.

Busy moms don't necessarily have the time to make a shopping list and clip coupons. But you should scrap your typical shopping list, anyway.

Instead of going through your cupboards and making your shopping list, base your shopping list on what is on sale at the store.

If you need something, just buy it, of course. But if you want to save a lot of money, buy when things are on sale and stock up on them for the future, when they're not on sale. Overstock them. Use your cupboards as store shelves. If you buy eight boxes of cereals on sale, they'll last you through the next sale cycle, so you're never going to pay full-price for your cereals.

Buy smaller, rather than larger, though that seems to fly in the face of conventional wisdom

When you have a bigger box, it doesn't necessarily mean cheaper. If you use smaller, very often, it's cheaper if you have a coupon. Also, don't buy more than you will actually use: wasting food costs.

Use circulars

Circulars guide shoppers on what's on sale in the store. They're usually put out weekly and, for different stores, they come on different days, depending on the supermarket. So, make sure to check the dates when the sales are in effect.

In addition, half of all sales aren't even in circulars, so keep your eyes open to see where the sales signs are.

Sale items are usually at the ends of aisles, but there are sale items throughout the store, so you need to look carefully.

What about fresh or organic products?

Organic products go on sale as well - you'll often see organic products on sale, such as Paul Newman's sauces, Stonyfield yogurts, and whole wheat pastas. All are easy to stockpile. Fruit and vegetables go on sale, too, but with all the money you save on your non-perishable items, spend a little more on the fresh fruit and veggies.

What about online help? Is there anything that you can do to get daily e-mails, or a site that tells you about sales?

TheGroceryGame.com is an online service that provides its members with lists of sales at their local supermarkets. When combined with coupons, members save hundreds of dollars a month!

[mal_momma]

Just have to say that I''ve been using Teri''s List since Oct 2003. I LOVE it - it''s so easy to use, no clipping of coupons until you check your List and see that you need an item. It''s a great service - worth every penny! Thank you, Teri, for helping our family save thousands upon thousands of dollars over the years!!