The next time you go out to shop for your grocery, keep in mind that the amount you spend on your grocery bills can have a direct impact on your monthly budget and eventually, your savings. A recent study has shown that an average family of four in the US spends about $6,000 on grocery bills. This shows how big a chunk, the grocery bill, takes out from our earnings.

But, you might be surprised to know that grocery bills are much easier to cut down than most other household expenditures. Let's now check out some of the most efficient ways by which you can control your grocery bills and increase your savings.

Essential ways to save on your grocery bills

The following are the useful tips which will help you to cut down on your grocery bills so that you can pay your other bills on time:

Make a list before you go to shop

Make a list of grocery items that you need to buy before leaving your house. A little planning before going out for shopping may save you lots of dollars by preventing expensive impulse buys.

Be informed about the sales

Most of the monthly staple foods that you buy, go on sales at a particular time each month. If you keep yourself informed about these sales, you will be able to buy the things at discounted rates.

Buy generic items

Curtail your habits of buying branded items and instead go for generic items. You will be surprised to see that you'll save around 10% - 40% on your shopping. Moreover, today, most supermarkets have their own brands covering sauces to towels. The product quality is as good as the branded items and it will cost you less.

Try to shop at the same store

Make it a habit to shop from the same grocery store. This will help since you will be familiar with the products they carry and thus, spend less time looking for stuffs. On the contrary, if you shop at new places, you'll tend to “look” more and thus buy more because you notice items you haven’t seen but want to try.

Use coupons to get discounts

Discount coupons are a great tool to save extra dollars while shopping. You can find these coupons in weekly newspaper inserts, at the stores and on retailer websites.

Remember that if you lower your grocery bills, it will go a long way to manage your monthly budget. Moreover, with the recession in full swing and many families have been tightening their belts, it is the most effective and easiest way to retain some dollars in your pocket.