By Darla Youngblood
Be section smart
Stores have spices and cheese and other foods in three different sections of the store. Be sure to check prices in each section so you get your best value.
Get grocery items for half price
Flash food is relatively new app that works with grocery stores to offer deals of up to 50 percent off items that are nearing sell by date. Pay for items through the app and pick them up at a designated zone in stores. Learn more at flash food.com.
Flip your berries
Moisture is the main reason berries go bad quickly. To find the freshest ones, flip over the container at the grocery store. If they are not sticking to the bottom, they will last longer.
Have two grocery lists
The first is all items you need for the coming week. The second is a running list of pantry items and household supplies that may run low in the next month or so. Buy those only when items are on sale, then get enough to last for a few months.
Switch to nonorganic for the “Clean Fifteen”
The Environmental Working Group publishes a list of the “Clean Fifteen “ on its website, identifying produce on which it found the smaller amount of pesticide residue . The list includes avocados, sweet potatoes and pineapples.
Download your grocery store’s app
The loyalty card has gone virtual. Two-thirds of supermarkets have digital deals accessible only on their app. Clip them within the app and they will get applied automatically at checkout.
Look for new store brands to try
Many name brands have aggressively raised prices on packaged foods this past year. Luckily, grocery chains come out with house-brand products that are almost cheaper than their more famous counterparts. Compare ingredient lists; often the biggest difference is price.
Mix up your supermarkets
New discount-grocery chains are showing up widely in many suburban and urban areas. Stores like Lidl, Aldi, Market Basket, Grocery Outlet, WinCo Foods and Save a Lot are some of the low cost retailers.
Use coupons when ordering online
The average grocery shopper could save more than 300 dollars per year by using online coupons for at home purchases. Install a browser extension such as Honey, Cently or Rakuten to automatically find and apply the codes for you at checkout.