6 ways to cut costs at the grocery store

LYNNFIELD, Mass. — With summer cookouts, patio parties, or just feeding your family... It can add up quickly. In fact, according to the USDA, the average family of four spends anywhere from $146 to $289 dollars every week on groceries.

So, other than clipping coupons, here are some ways to knock down your bill, each time you hit the grocery store.

Denise Herrera is the VP of Operations at Burton's Grill. She's no stranger to buying bulk on groceries for her restaurants, and she’s sharing some of her tricks to save, with the rest of us.

Buy Generic:
First, Denise says one of the easiest changes you can make, buy generic.

"A lot of major retailers will partner with manufacturers to make their label generic product. So it's the same great quality, in different packaging, for less money,“ Herrera says.

Avoid Prepared and Precut Items:
Second, avoid buying prepared and precut produce.

"I'm going to pay $4.99 for a whole watermelon or I'm going to spend $7.40 on a small, package of pre-cut watermelon, “ she says.

Another tip…
Keep Current Circulars

"They’ll automatically give you the money off."

Shop on Wednesday's
And, know which day supermarkets lower their prices on foods about to expire. Turns out for most chains, that day is on Wednesday's.

So on Wednesday's, it may be a good idea to buy in bulk.

Buy in Bulk
"Knowing what product to buy in bulk is going to be the most important piece and how you can incorporate that into your weekly monthly meal plan so that you're utilizing it throughout the entire week," Herrera advises.

Use Social Media
Herrera also recommends signing up for the store's apps and using social media to help you score deals found nowhere else, "LIKE" certain manufacturers websites and also Facebook pages because they're going to start sending you certain coupons and deals."

Check Your Receipt
And as you're leaving the store, check your receipt to make sure you received the deals that were advertised on the shelves.

"I'm always looking to make sure that what I think I was supposed to be paying, actually translates to what the cash register says.”

While you're checking your receipt, Herrera suggests looking to make sure you weren’t double scanned on any items, or that you weren’t charged for grocery bags, as some stores are now automatically adding onto receipts.

If they are, she says, invest in your own reusable bags for an extra cost savings in the long run.

Cox Media Group