The United States Department of Agriculture says grocery store prices will rise 1 to 2 percent this year. However, there are ways to still save.
For starters, begin with the meat.
"We have to pay close attention to those sale prices specifically," says Erin Chase, who is known as the $5 Dollar Dinner Mom.
Chase says to pay attention to the store’s sale cycles.
"Start following the sales and the sale cycles, and you will start to notice, hey about every six weeks, chicken breast is on sale at my grocery store,” she says. “And maybe every eight to 10 weeks, ground beef is on sale at my grocery store."
Chase recommends buying only meat for $3 or less per pound.
When it comes to seafood, it's rarely found in a circular, so ask your grocery store when it goes on sale.
"Because it's reduced for a quick sale, you need to do something with it fairly quickly,” Chase says.
Besides saving big on protein, Chase says items in the center isles can be a great place to save.
"Those items are usually the most couponable," she says.
Chase says some of her favorite things to save on include toiletries and cleaning supplies.
"If you can start saving on household things, cleaning supplies, medications--it’s cold and flu season right now--go stock up,” Chase says. "Because eventually, someone will need Tylenol or Advil."
Couponing and going through the circular of sales can be time consuming, but Chase says to think long-term with your money.
"If I can put in 5, 10 20, 30 minutes now, and I can save myself $30, $40, $50 a week, multiply that by 52 and all of a sudden you're like, ‘Oh, that's worth spending 15-20 minutes looking at the ads.’"
An easy place to start when it comes to looking for savings is to only look for sales on items you normally buy.
