By Danielle Dowling,
Nubella News

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that an average American family of four rings up a yearly grocery bill topping out at $8,315. Meanwhile, major corporations are spending millions of dollars in advertising to make sure that the number keeps rising.

The Labor Department is betting that they’ll succeed, predicting that the amount of money a family spends at the supermarket will increase by 4 percent every year. Do you want to prove them wrong? Follow these seven tips.

Think like a general. Drawing up a list of the items you need before you head to the store is key, since sticking to that roster will prevent you from making impulse purchases. But if you want to be a real supersaver, you should also organize your coupons (by aisle is best), scour the circulars of area supermarkets, and decide whether a deal at a store that’s a little bit out of your way will be worth the gas (at $3.80 for a gallon of gas, it costs about 14 cents a mile for a car that averages 27 miles per gallon).

Become a card-carrying member. Nowadays, almost every supermarket and drugstore offers its customers membership in a savings club. And though you might have to get an extra key ring to accommodate the many tags you’ll need to have at the ready, the money you’ll save through special discounts, coupon bonuses, and other rewards will more than make up for the hassle.

Clip coupons. In 2006, shoppers redeemed 2.6 billion coupons, saving themselves a collective $331 billion, according to a study conducted by Carolina Marketing Services. And thanks to the Internet, coupon clipping has become much less of a chore. Many sites provide a coupon database and allow you to easily search for deals in your area.

Go generic. Because a ton of money wasn’t used to fund a megamillion-dollar ad campaign, months of research and development, and snazzy packaging, you can save as much as 50 percent when you choose a generic product over a brand name. Cereal, a common wallet drainer, is an absolute bargain when put in a no-frills package: A 16-ounce bag is about two bucks less than a brand-name box of comparable size.

Look before you buy. Just because it’s supersize or generic or on sale doesn’t always guarantee that you’ll save big or even at all. Carefully compare prices, paying particular attention to the unit price, which tells you how much money you pay per pound, per fluid ounce, or, in the case of toilet paper and paper towels, per sheet.

Don’t shop on an empty stomach and/or on little sleep. It’s simple common sense, but research bears it out: Well-fed, well-rested individuals make better choices than do hungry, tired ones. Walking into a store ravenous and weary is much like going in there without a list; you’re much more likely to buy a bunch of stuff you don’t need and forget many of the things you do require.

Related Links:

4 Ways to Eat Healthy on a Budget 

Ask the Nutritionist: Rising Food Prices 

Top Cereals You Should and Shouldn't Eat