As you try to make ends meet you have a new appreciation for stretching $10. A good way to save money is to shop with just as much cash as you feel you will need. This is one way to ensure you do not go over you budget.

The key to grocery savings is not to be brand loyal. Always watch the grocer store circulars and use coupons in conjunction with a store sale price, or better yet find a buy one-get-one-free sale. Be a smart grocery shopper. Use all of the coupons and grocery cards you can for items you need to purchase.

Grocery Shopping Suggestions:

* Eat before you go grocery shopping so you won`t be tempted to make impulse purchases.

* Don`t forget to buy the generic or store brand for those items where a brand name is not necessary: sugar, flour, toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, etc.

* Stock up on food staples when they are on sale.

* Buy store-brand cereal instead of national brands. If your household goes through a box or more per week, you can save over $100 per year by purchasing store brands.

* When buying pre-packaged fruits and vegetables for a flat cost, i.e. 5 pounds of potatoes for $1.88, actually weigh the bags and find the bag that weighs more than 5 pounds.

* Check out the price per ounce/pound/piece. Just because it is a big box, doesn`t mean it`s cheaper! Sometimes two smaller packages are cheaper than the big box. Compare prices ounce per ounce.

* Stretch the food that exists in your cupboards. I bet you have enough odds and ends to last you at least a week in meals if you`re creative. I have learned to make wonderful meals out of rice and beans, noodles, and herbs.

* When you cook a meal, cook twice as much and freeze the leftovers. This works great with cookie dough too.

* The weeks when the sales are not so good could be light buying weeks. If you have some food in reserve, on these light weeks the extra food is like money in the bank. If you ever hit a rough patch, you might have enough to carry you through that time.