Have a Shopping List

Never enter a supermarket planning to wing it. “Going to the grocery store without a list in hand can be deadly to your budget. Make a list and stick to it,” suggests CouponCabin.com president Jackie Warrick.

Aimless browsing will cost you at checkout -- time really does equal money at the market. “The longer we stay in a store, the more we spend,” says Lempert . So get in, get what you need, and get out. Most of us are also guilty of accidently buying things we already have. So take inventory of your pantry, fridge and freezer before you head out with your well-thought out list tucked into your bag. “Otherwise you’re going to spend more,” Lempert says.