Everyone loves to save money and the easiest place to save money is at the supermarket. Although food is one of life's little necessities, you don't have to break the bank to eat well. By planning ahead, sticking to your list, switching to generic brands, avoiding the pricey spotlight items, and knowing when your store marks down merchandise, you can cut the cost of your food bill nearly in half.

Plan Ahead

Before you even leave the house sit down and go through your store's sales flyer, your coupon collection (if you have one) and try to make some matches. You should plan your weekly dinner menu around what you can buy on sale, with a coupon, or best yet with both. You should be stocking up when staples like pasta and beans are on sale so you'll be able to throw together a quick and easy meal with just about anything. Once you have your plan, write a list. Attach your coupons to your list with a paperclip and you are ready to hit the store.

Stick To Your List

It's too easy to see something you like in the supermarket on sale and throw it into the cart thinking it won't hurt. It will hurt...your food budget. Stick to only the items on your list. If you've done your planning well, you should have all the bases covered including snacks. It doesn't matter how good a deal it is if you don't need it it's wasted money. The only exception is in the case of a staple item that you can get at a really good deal. If you find chicken broth at half-price and you know that you use it all the time then by all means, buy it. Just don't convince yourself that double stuff Oreos are a staple item.

Resist Brand Loyalty

Generic brands are of the same quality as the expensive name brands. In fact, many times the same companies that make those name brands make the generic equivalent for the supermarkets. When you pay more for a name brand, most of what you are paying for is the name and the packaging not better product. Buying generic is the best way to keep your food bill low while saving you the hassle of cutting coupons since you won't need them for the store brands.

Know Your Store's "Bargain" Times

Every supermarket marks down their inventory at a certain time on a certain day. For example, my store marks all the meats that are close to the 'sell by' date down on Tuesday mornings. I know if I go into the store early on Tuesday I can find great deals on meats. Also, if you notice something is approaching the 'sell by' date, don't be afraid to ask a manager for a discount. More often than not they'll give you the reduced price just to get the item out of the store.

By following these five easy tips you can save $40 or $50 bucks a weeks without sacrificing quality or taste. I'll bet your family won't even notice the difference in the kitchen but you'll sure notice the difference in your bank account!

Jennifer Carpenter is a work at home mother of three, two teens and a preschooler. She is a writer and Internet marketer who is currently working towards financial freedom through working online. Read more about her incredible journey at http://www.livingmybigdream.com