“Plan your menus!  If the average family eats out two-and-a-half times a week, then my family is way, way, way below average because we only eat out once a month, and it’s always planned. (Unless someone else is paying!) If you plan your food menus, you’ll be less likely to find yourself asking ‘what am I going to make for dinner’? Plus, when you head to the store with a plan you can save money by sticking to the list. I like to see what’s on sale, make my menu, and shop from home first (that is, see what I already have on hand). Stocking up on your favorite items when they’re on sale is another a great way to save money in the long run.”

From Kim Forgey of Florida: “A month or two ago, we went to a cash basis for food purchases (including lunch money for the kids at school).  Before, I would buy lots of stuff at the grocery and not pay any attention to how much it would cost, because I just swiped the debit card at the end of the transaction.  Now on payday, we go to the bank and withdraw cash.  We have a cashbox at home, so the grocery money sits in its own dedicated slot.  I print out the week's calendar, plan meals, and make a list of what I need to make those meals. Between the list and the cash budget, I pay close attention to what I'm buying.  I shop the weekly ads and combine them with coupons to maximize my savings.”

From Chris McGinn, who writes a blog about how technology can make life easier: “I have definitely made changes with my grocery shopping over the past year. I have two young children and work from home. I have begun learning more about couponing from sites like Moneysaving Mom and Be Centsable. Using an online shopping option from our local Harris-Teeter grocery store is another tactic that has dramatically reduced my bills. Surprisingly I save 25 to 50 percent a week versus my previous spending by not going into the store.”

Thanks and Tightwad T-shirts to you all. And if anyone has other ideas, please let me know at tightwad at cro dot consumer dot org ...