What are some shopping tips that can help keep the final total of your receipt manageable?

Only buy what you need. Make a list prior to going and stick to it! Try not to go grocery shopping hungery, I know when I do I buy more. Try to look at local ads and get stuff on sale. You can check their mail flyers, or go to the store web site and check the local ad online. If stores are close, go to multiple. Also, coupons are good! Many people don't use these enough anymore, but the savings add up. A lot of stores allow you to use coupons on top of sale prices. Just got to do your homework! Buy store brands as well, a lot of items are just as good as namebrand but much cheaper.

Carry a calculator so you know what you're spending.

dont take a credit card and only take money cause then you can't fit that much in your purse and you dont spend so much

Buy store brands, not name brands Never go grocery shopping hungry Clip and don't be afraid to use coupons Make your shopping lists and menus based on what's on sale

Look at the proposed purchase, want it, put it down. THEN, ask yourself the question "Will I die tomorrow if I don't buy this?" Train yourself to use restraint. There is enormous pleasure in wanting something over time and saving for it. Good luck..

Best advice "know what you can afford". Being able to afford something does not mean being able to make the payments. Other than a house or car, it means being able to pay it off if necessary. Never have more debt than savings. You have to float some debt to increase your credit score. From the beginning, plan on living on 90% of your net salary. The rest goes into savings. Ideally, you should live on 80% with 10% going to investing as well. Stop thinking about being able to afford things based on 100% of your income. This way, you'll not only be able to afford what you've bought, but also the costs associated with it. After all, can you really afford a car that you can't afford to have the oil changed in? It truly is the difference between having "peace of mind" about your finances. You might be a little behind your friends for awhile, but you'll actually pass them eventually and will never stress about money and debt the way they will.

My wife does it best. First, know all the places you can shop in your area. Example, in my area there is a Dominic's, Jewel Osco, Meijer, Costco, and Wal-Mart. Second, from each area that offers the free discount cards that go on your keyring, get them. It saves just like a coupon. Third, speaking of coupons, look through the papers at all the areas where you can shop. Find out what is on sale where and for how long. Usually the sales all happen around the same time frame. Cut coupons for items you need to buy. Sometimes just between steps 2 and 3 alone, we save 30% on our grocery bills. Fourth, make a list of what you want to buy and order it by the store you can buy it from. Obviously, the cheapest priced store is what will get the sale. Fifth, now that you know what you want and where it is, map the best route to go shopping by. This saves you on gas and obviously it saves time. Also, if you feel that you are buying enough to have to make two trips, then plan that into your route as well. Get the maximum mileage out of your planning. But do be careful about frozen goods, they need to hit the freezer ASAP. Last, look for the buy some get some free at the store. If you use it and it will keep, then get the free one when you can. Shopping smart and shopping around saves you big time. I hope this helps.

Go in with a PLAN of exactly what you need to buy and a BUDGET. Stick to them!

Yea...don't take your husband grocery shopping! I just got married in June and learned very quickly that my biggest money saving plan is to leave the husband at home!!!! We spend more when he tags along and I am constantly telling him to look at the store brand, not name brand. I also clip coupons and use discount cards like the ones that go on your key chain. But seriously, I save more by leaving the hubby at home.