The grocery store can entrance a hungry shopper. The aisles filled with colorful boxes of sugary bliss seem all too enticing. However, the wallet may seem to be getting lighter and lighter as we traipse through the store. The economic situation withstanding, most prices have increased due to dollar’s performance on the global market. It’s not that milk, cheese and bread have become more costly to produce, but the cost of gas, oil and transportation have increased to get those products to the store.

In the US, rising prices have compounded problems created by the collapse of the housing market, rising energy costs and stagnating wages for the majority of the population. Retail prices on staple American foods rose by double-digit percentages in the last year, according to new data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The cost of milk rose 26 percent, and egg prices grew by 40 percent. [Source: wsws.org]

So what can we do to combat rising costs for these common grocery store purchases? We can’t stop eating afterall. The answer lies in all the other items we buy. We can combat costly grocery items by purchasing less of the luxury items. We can also save by using coupons. There are many sites online that offer free coupon printing services.

At Save Money.com, we have articles written explaining how coupons can help put money back in your pocket. There seems to be a stigmatism attached to using a coupon. While a coupon helps you save money, some see it as a hassle. The Sunday paper often times has coupons we can use on our next visit to the store. I encourage you to try using coupons for one visit. You’ll be surprised at how much you’ll save.

Using coupons can cut your expenses and it also has the side effect of encouraging you to plan your visit. A grocery list and coupon book can keep you from impulsively buying something you don’t need. What ideas do you have to save money at the grocery store?