I'm paying attention to what's on sale, but I always have...I shop by category and not specific items (like juice instead of V8 Splash) and get whatever is on sale/cheapest.

I always check thru the sales flyer & use coupons when I can...It all adds up

Sales and coupons.

I always check for sales, try to pick the grocery store around me that has the most things that I want on sale, and to stick to the list. But I still pick up sale items and other things if I have a coupon.

I'm definitely trying to buy more of what I NEED or cost less than I did before. And trying to go less and have a mission when I go in.

Now I check for sales, stick to my list, and even occasionally clip coupons.

I prefer to shop at the local greenmarket (and the quality of the produce is much better), but when I'm strapped for cash - which seems to be pretty often, these days - I wind up sticking to the lower quality and lower prices at my local grocer and opting for standard instead of organic. I also find I ask myself "Do I NEED This" more, whereas I used to just toss whatever I wanted into the shopping cart.

We are aware of price increases but have been sticking to our usual shopping habits. We have our list of staples that we spend on for quality (pargmigiano reggiano, olive oil, agave nectar, etc.). If we see a sale we stock up on the items. We do a lot of home cooking so have been very aware of prices but are pretty creative and opportunistic when shopping.

We're trying to do a bit more with less- making meals stretch farther and making sure leftovers don't go to waste, that sort of thing. Our grocery bill has gone up 15 dollars a week for a family of four. We haven't changed what we buy- it's just that prices are higher.

Also, I'm growing a modest vegetable garden so we can offset the cost of produce this summer.

Huh!? What price increase? I don't really notice that kind of thing. And I don't think prices have been going up. There's only more and more competition where I live.

I'm on a limited budget to begin with, so I've definitely book checking sales, clipping coupons, and buying generic brands. It really adds up in the end if you put a little bit of effort into trying to save money.

I agree with that Brittany - last time I went grocery shopping, I saved $40 just off of coupons, not counting the sales from the store itself.

I haven't changed my shopping habits too too much just yet, but I have changed my meal organization and preparation by planning ahead much better.

I have not really noticed that big of a change in prices but i do love my sales and coupons

I don't really pay attention.

Flyers, coupons, buying generic... our bill is still about twenty dollars a week higher than it was six months ago.
I hope there is a good outlook on the future of this stuff.
It really stinks that all the good food, costs more money. Why can you buy a bag of m&ms for 2 bucks, but a bag of tomatoes cost 8? Doesn't make sense. Produce prices are riduculous right now. Milk and eggs are high too! Which makes cheese & bread prices get even higher. Walk around the perimeter of the store, where you are supposed to do the bulk of your shopping, and that's where the prices have gotten outrageous!

I hate the fact that the sizes are getting smaller while prices go up. Also, the strategy of doing a sale then a price increase....like the consumer won't notice!! If I sound annoyed....it's because I am.

Although I always try to buy on sale, I buy what I want and do think twice about the price when I get to the cash register and the bill is enormous.

I've gotten a lot better at looking for deals and making staples and stuff last longer.

*food staples, not staple staples.

I have very specific needs when I grocery shop -- usually produce, grains, and nuts. I have noticed the increases in costs, but I buy what I need.

I shop for all my groceries at Trader Joes, Whole Foods, local farmer's markets, and local health foods stores. These aren't the kind of grocery stores for coupons and sales.

I'd rather spend the extra money and get very healthy foods, rather than cheaper pre-packaged meals.

One more reason for me to go on a no-food diet! kidding....

i buy stuff on sale, and use coupons when the store puts them next to items, but i buy what i want!! i love to cook and i'm not gonna stop...plus, it's still cheaper than eating out.

We shop at cub and plan all our meals now

I've always been a big fan of sales and coupons, now more so than ever with the price of gas. I am buying more store brands than ever. Cub Foods has a great line of generics, some of which I actually prefer over the big name brands! And I have pretty much cut out dining outside of the home opting to cook healthy meals at home. Not a problem though, as I love puttering in the kitchen!

I always watch what I spend at the supermarket. Food has gotten so expensive that it can put a dent in your budget.

I have been buying more at places like Aldi's and trying to make larger meal that I can stretch into other meals. Like I made a filling for some burritos earlier in the week with some chorizo (from Aldi's), black beans, corn, peppers and tomatoes. It made a lot so my plan for tonight is to take that and make enchiladas with the enchilada sauce that I had in my freezer.

Also, I've been eating out less and making more at home. I don't eat out often, less than once a week, but I've been trying to do things like make my own pizzas at home. I made a big batch of dough and sauce and put enough in the freezer for three other pizzas.

You guys with your Aldi's and Cub Foods make me nostalgic for the Midwest! (Only places I've seen them--never seen them out here in SoCal.)

We have Food For Less out here, but the closest one to my place is so far that the extra gas I'd use to get there would negate the grocery savings

i am starting my own veggie garden because of the price increase. that should help.

The current economic situation is not making me price conscious - I have always been very price conscious.

I actually write out my shopping list and go to three different grocery stores without buying anything. I take a notebook and my list and I write down the price of each item and its size. Then I go home and calculate which store had the best deal for my dollar on the items I want. I take into account club cards and coupons when calculating the price of an item.

After I've figured out the price per unit for each item I then write out my shopping list placing each item on to a page for the store where I should buy it. The I plan on how to go about my actual attack.

My sister stopped doing this and she recently told me that when she looked back at how much money she had wasted because she didn't pre-shop and comparison shop for price per unit beforehand she was angry with herself. This month she's gone back to pre-shopping instead of just going to the Albertson's next to her house. She then sent my nephews in to Albertson's to gather the price per unit on the things she bought and they were shocked at how much money she saved by not going to the closet most convenient store. My sister saved $300 on her groceries this month. Instead of spending $1000 plus for groceries and supplies she spent $699 by going to three different stores. And she didn't use up any more gas than she would have if she had bought everything at Albertson's because she would have had to made multiple trips there on during the coming month because they don't stock everything that was on her list. She shopped at Costco, The Naval Commissary and Smart&Final and she got everything she needed from those 3 stores in one trip. She's patting herself on the back for doing what my mom taught us and what her husband used to love - saving money.

Yeah its a lot of work, or so it seems to someone who didn't grow up doing this, but its not. I save A LOT of money comparison shopping from my list before I buy. It's good exercise for me because I walk to each store and leave my car parked. The money I save goes into books, music and other entertainment.

For non-food (mostly) purchases, the Walgreen's Rebate Catalog is great. Every month they have a few free items...you just have to send in your purchase tape with the applicable products circled. There are also Walgreen's store coupons in the catalog which you can couple with Sunday paper coupons for the same product purchase. If you take a little bit of time, you can can save a buttload!

I always try to buy what is on sale but now I really need to.

You will always spend money on food. When cooking, a lot of foods cannot be subsituted by knockoffs or cheaper (sometimes lighter) versions of the real thing. If you are cooking for yourself and don't mind suspending the taste for the budget (and I myself am all for this method) go ahead, but from previous personal experience, there is no substitute for the real flavor that you are going for, which pays for itself in the compliments you receive when everyone is asking for the recipe later.

To be honest, I don't really notice until someone points it out to me. However, yesterday it finally hit me how much the price of gas has gone up. I filled up my VW Golf with $52.46. Daaaamn!

"I filled up my VW Golf with $52.46"

Woooow. Ouch!

I've been really paying attention to sales now and making sure I eat everything I buy.

Not really I've always been thrifty and read the flyers.